Maidstone-born Alex Mitchell will have a chance to make his mark on the world stage, as England take on South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi final tonight.

And who knows what sporting immortality awaits if England can continue their run. If they do, Alex might become one of many household names to have emerged from Kent to conquer the best of the sporting world.

Admittedly Kent’s international triumphs might have been few and far between, but here’s a rundown of our greatest sporting sons and daughters.

Kelly Holmes

In terms of individual sporting success, Kelly Holmes arguably stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field in Kent – with two Olympic gold medals to prove it.

But her tale is one of grit and perseverance in the face of adversity. Born in Pembury, Kelly grew up in Hildenborough before starting training in athletics at the age of 12 with Tonbridge Athletics Club.

Having combined athletics with employment in the army through the 1990s, increased funding eventually allowed her to become a full-time athlete in 1997, but Holmes’ hopes of topflight success seemed to be perpetually dashed by injury.

Even in the run-in to the 2004 Athens Olympics, she was dogged by leg injuries and mental health problems – but by the time of the competition she had fought back to the best shape of her life.

Holmes would come from behind in the 800m and 1500m finals to take gold in both, and after enjoying a homecoming parade in front of 40,000 people in Tonbridge she would be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Frank Woolley

Back in the 50, 60s and 70s, the name of Colin Cowdrey was arguably the biggest in Kent sport – a top order batsman playing for Kent from 1950 to 1976, and for England in 114 test matches from 1954 to 1975. Born in India, Cowdrey’s family moved back to Sutton in London when he was child, before his father enrolled him in Tonbridge School so he could play for Kent – but before Cowdrey, the Tonbridge-born Frank Woolley was the real Kent superstar.

Frank had been born above the family bicycle business in Tonbridge High Street in 1887, just a cricket ball’s throw away from Tonbridge Cricket Ground, where he would first make his mark as a player. A genuine all-rounder, Woolley played for Kent from 1906 to 1938, and in 64 tests for England from 1909 to 1934. An outstanding close fielder, he is the only non-wicketkeeper to have held over 1,000 catches in a first-class career, whilst his total number of runs scored is the second-highest of all time.

Gary Mason

Does Kent punch above or below its weight on the world’s sporting stages? It’s a debatable point, but not one you would have argued about with Gary Mason, who no doubt punched harder than anyone else on this list.

Born in Jamaica, Mason grew up in Clapham before moving to Medway aged 23, and the Towns would become his base as his boxing career grew from strength to strength.

Soon after turning pro Mason moved to Clandon Road, Lordswood, before moving to Walderslade – and he would go on to open a Gillingham High Street shop called Punch and Jewellery.

Mason’s boxing career is a tale of what could have been. Crowned British heavyweight champion in 1989, the then-unbeaten Mason suffered a detached retina in a win over Everett Martin the following year, and was forced into an early retirement. A comeback in 1991 ended with his eye injury being aggravated in a TKO defeat to Lennox Lewis – one the greatest boxers in history, who later said Mason was the hardest puncher he’d faced.

Who knows what would have happened without that injury. Sadly Mason’s story ended in tragedy when he died in a cycling accident in London in 2011, aged 48, but he will be forever remembered for his fantastic career, lovable character and infectious laugh.

Lizzy Yarnold

Former Maidstone Grammar School for Girls student Lizzy Yarnold made history in 2018 when she became the first British Winter Olympian to retain her title.

Originally from West Kingsdown, Yarnold had been awarded the MBE when she clinched the first place in the skeleton in 2014's Winter Games in Sochi.

Repeating the achievement four years later in Pyeongchang, South Korea, made her the most successful British Winter Olympian in history, and the most successful Olympic skeleton athlete of all time from any nation.

Andy Townsend

Pele, Maradonna, Townsend…

Ok, the Maidstone-born Andy Townsend might not have made it into the same league as the world’s top football superstars, and in recent times the likes of Chris Smalling and Alessia Russo have helped Maidstone make more of a mark on the football world.

But make no mistake, on his day Townsend had the skills to rule most midfields in England. He had his fair crack at ruling a few more around the world too, not with his country of birth, but with Jack Charlton’s Ireland side in 1990 and 1994 – with Ireland giving hosts Italy a scare in the quarter-final of the former and losing out to a top Dutch side in the last 16 of the latter.

After playing for top league sides around the country Townsend went on to enjoy a second, just as a glittering career as a commentator and pundit.

Who can forget such golden lines as “Scotland can’t afford to take their minds off the gas” and “I think one of these teams could win this...”

The Maidstone lad done good.

Virginia Wade

Born in Bornemouth, Wade moved to South Africa with her family as a child, but her Kent connections began when she moved back to England aged 15 and went to Tunbridge Wells’ Girls Grammar School.

Having learnt to play tennis while in South Africa she found early success and went on to win three majors singles championships and four major doubles championships. Nevertheless, success at Wimbledon came late, with Wade clinching the title at her 16th attempt.

After retiring from competitive tennis, she began coaching and has also worked as a tennis commentator and game analyst for TV companies around the world

Barry Hawkins

Originally from Dartford and now living in Ditton, Barry Hawkins would be a household name around the country if his success had been in a bigger sport than snooker.

Once ranked 4 in the world, Hawkins played in the televised stages of every World Championship from 2006 to 2022, and reached the final in 2013 – losing out to Ronnie O’Sullivan, arguably the greatest player in the history of the game.

Hawkins remains one of the top names in the sport, having won four ranking titles, including the European Masters last month.

Alessia Russo

Still making a mark on the world stage, the best is maybe still yet to come from Kent’s Alessia Russo.

Just a few years ago the 24-year-old was netting goals for grassroots teams in her hometown of Maidstone, but this year the whole country was glued to her efforts as she helped England’s lionesses through to the World Cup Final in Sydney.

Russo scored three vital goals in England’s run to the final, before the team came up short – only by the shortest of margins – in a 1-0 defeat to Spain.