Shaunagh Brown column: 'I just felt empty after losing World Cup final'

England lost to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup.

A lot of people were crying. There were a lot of happy people at the sold-outEden Park.

I stood there and didn't feel anything.

It is difficult to take a loss because there is so much more to it.

We have been in New Zealand for seven weeks trying to fulfill our goal.

In July, we were in pre-season. We broke our guts every week. Sometimes we would throw up during training sessions due to the amount of physical activity we did.

When you have emptied your tank for weeks and weeks at a time, it's hard to not feel like you've got something.

I am aware that we were involved in a special day for women's rugby.

The England side went on a record winning run of 30 Tests, and we played in front of a record crowd of 42,587.

I've received messages from people in rugby like ex-England player Ugo Monye, to people outside like athlete Dina Asher-Smith, to let me know that we have inspired a generation.

'It is not the end of me'

Losing a World Cup final is terrible, but I have always been a fan of rugby.

It is not the end of me now that we have not won it, because this would not have been the making of me if we had won it.

I didn't think that was the worst day of my life. It's too important for that to happen.

When Lydia Thompson was sent off in the first half, we went down to 14 players, but we came back and ended the game with three points.

In team sport, the attitude to silver medals is different than it is in athletics.

If you won a silver medal at the Olympics, you would be honored at the medal ceremony.

You have lost in team sports.

'We will sell out Twickenham'

The quality of that final is unquestioned regardless of the result. Investing in women's sport is worthwhile.

We have had contracts with the England's union since 2019.

Everyone else needs to come up to us. In the Women's Six Nations, we have a match against France.

The players talked after the final about what a great event the World Cup will be in 25 years.

The intention is to have that tournament all over the country.

We talked after the game about how excited we are to see England play in the World Cup final at Twickenham.

I am pretty sure that is going to happen.

I am excited to see my family when we fly home on Sunday.

I'm looking forward to the dinner. When I get home, I will have my first meal in seven weeks.

I want to go to the carvery, but my mother wants to cook it. I want to put so many things on my plate that they all fall off.

Brown was talking to a person.

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