Epsom rugby star Rochelle Smith is one step closer to her dream of winning the World Cup thanks to a £2,000 cash windfall.

The 19-year-old was one of 50 aspiring athletes chosen to receive the Jaguar Academy of Sport bursary award, which the Saracens and England U20 player said will help with financial pressures.

After being selected by national charity Sports Aid, Smith was presented with the bursary by Olympic gold medalists Sir Chris Hoy and Dame Kelly Holmes.

Smith said: “The funds will really help with training, travel and nutrition – these are vital to my development in rugby.”

While the academy provides funds, it also provides a bespoke mentoring and education programme, delivered by Kelly Holmes Education, that all the rising stars automatically join.

It provides a wide range of workshops over the year, focusing on the emotional, physical and psychological elements the young athletes need to work on to one day emulate their heroes, many of whom are existing patrons and ambassadors of the academy.

For Smith, this could mean spending time with ambassadors Johnny Wilkinson and Sam Warburton – however, neither are her heroes.

“My sporting hero is Jason Robinson. He is not arrogant and has such humility, which is how I model myself as a player,” she said.

“I will always remember his quote ‘My game does not revolve around being a try scorer’ because it is one thing being a great try scorer but a completely different thing to be a great all-round player, which I believe he has achieved.”

Smith was the Surrey and London Irish women’s skipper last year, and also led the UK School Games rugby sevens side in 2011.

And she has her sights set on loftier goals for the next 12 months and beyond.

“I want to get into the Saracens first team squad, as well as start both England’s U20s tests against France,” Smith said.

“Ultimately, I would like to win the World Cup because I’d like to have that sense of achievement and the title of World Cup winner.

“Then maybe I can inspire the younger generation that look up to me in the same way I look up to my sporting greats.”