'For this group, being given the license to play should be frightening for other teams'
The 2024 Women’s Six Nations is just around the corner and I am extremely excited and honoured to have been named in the squad for the campaign.
The Six Nations started as a Home Nations competition between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales in 1996 before expanding to the Five Nations with the addition of France in 1999 and Spain in 2001, who were replaced by Italy in 2007; the competition is going from strength to strength every year as teams become increasingly more professional and competitive.
The tournament has been home to fast-paced, competitive rugby for many years, but this year feels different. I think we’re about to see a new and improved tournament, with Guinness taking the reigns as headline sponsor.
For the Red Roses, this is our first campaign where John Mitchell has been in charge from the off. We have clear direction in how we want to play, but we are also challenged to be brave and not be afraid to play.
For this group, being given the license to play should be frightening for other teams. The likes of Zoe Harrison linking up with Meg Jones in the backs, and Marlie Packer and Poppy Cleall bringing their club form into a white shirt.
This week we were based in Shepperton, using the London Irish facilities. Our first few camps have been located away from Pennyhill Park for a change of scenery. This is always a bit of a gamble because you know what you are getting with Pennyhill, but it’s been refreshing training somewhere new and the chef has made everyone happy – who knew that chicken and halloumi skewers would be the make-or-break after a hard session!
As we approach our first test week the training schedule has ramped up in intensity. We want to be the fittest team in the competition, but with that comes gruelling sessions. At the start of the week, we have a clarity session where we fine-tune detail and ensure we are on the same wavelength. Our second day is our ‘Battle Day’ where we go head to head in a collision-heavy session.
We then have a down day the following day where we get back on the pitch and walk through any fix-ups. Although it is low-level intensity, this session is important to correct the errors going forward. Our last session of the week is our fast session, where we work at a high intensity for a prolonged period of time. Using data that our strength and conditioning team have tracked over the last few seasons, we are able to train at match intensity to build our thresholds and push us forward.
Maddie Feaunati has been the latest addition into the squad. Maddie was born in the UK and moved to New Zealand when she was nine to connect more with her islander culture having grown up with her Kiwi mother and Samoan father.
As you can probably imagine, we were intrigued as to why Maddie chose to join the Red Roses over the Black Ferns and hearing her rationale was humbling. We are delighted to welcome her to the squad.
On Wednesday the captains of each nation were invited to the Six Nations Launch event based at Frameless, Marble Arch. Not only was the room full of rugby journalists and broadcasters, but it was also attended by other female sporting heroes such as Jill Scott, Laura Kenny and Karen Carney.
Having this calibre of sportswomen in a room discussing women’s sport and celebrating women’s rugby is another step forward for the game. Hopefully, it will increase exposure to potential new fans too.
As an onlooker, the event looked incredible. From the moment you stepped through the door (as seen on social media), you were greeted with highlights from the tournament over the years. As the guests went down the escalator, there were sound bites of tries being scored and the roaring crowd behind it.
Another memorable moment from what I saw on social media was the graphic of a sold-out Twickenham projected on the walls of the venue. This imagery would have been really inspiring for the captains in the room.
What’s really important is to remember that all of us play rugby because we love it, but we’ve also got so many different personalities and there are things people love doing off the pitch.
I’m really proud of Ellie Kildunne, she was my roommate throughout the World Cup; she’s always loved photography and videography and she was given the opportunity to shoot the Rugby World magazine cover with Jess Breach. This led to an opportunity to photograph the England vs Ireland Men’s Six Nations match, of which her photographs were phenomenal. She’s really come out of her shell and become her own person.
It’s sometimes hard to get the balance right between rugby and other commitments/life. Rugby plays such a big role in our day-to-day lives that it is easy to let it ‘rule your world’. I think it’s really important to have other strings to your bow as an athlete. Having something you can do to ‘switch off’, but also having something to fall back on as anything can happen in sport.
I’m really interested in marketing and when I get the opportunity to help someone or a company with little projects I get a real buzz from it. I enjoy helping other athletes with their own personal brand and helping them fulfil their potential.
For life after rugby, we have the Rugby Players’ Association. They’re there for professional rugby players who might need a bit of support in those other areas of life as well. They have the ability to give us grants and funding to be able to go and do things so that after rugby we aren’t just sitting there anxious about what to do with our time. It’s about preparing us for life after rugby and making sure that we can fulfil ourselves.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
1 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
5 Go to comments