Heather Fisher: Abi Burton is a 'weapon' for the Red Roses

Heather Fisher believes that Abi Burton’s brush with serious illness has pushed the back-row forward to new heights.

Much like Fisher, Burton is a rugby sevens player now thriving in the 15-a-side game. In Burton’s case, we are only just getting to see what the 26-year-old can bring to the Red Roses on a regular basis.

The pair were once teammates when a teenage Burton first stepped into England Sevens camp and Fisher was at the tail-end of her playing career.

Last weekend, the forward from West Yorkshire put in a Player of the Match performance in England’s 48-15 win against Australia in the WXV Global Series.

Fisher believes that Burton’s encounter with autoimmune encephalitis in 2022 has driven the back-row forward to new heights. Four years ago, Burton was placed in a coma for 25 days and had to learn how to walk again.

“I think Abi Burton’s transition from her illness is what made her,” Fisher told RugbyPass.

“When you’re a young player, you come in and you’re like, ‘wow, I’ve made it.’

“Actually, you start to realise that when you walk into an England shirt, you haven’t made it. You’re just about to begin a journey that can end pretty quickly.

“Abi Burton’s story got tough really quickly. She was in a really bad place. It was really horrible what she went through. What she has had to do, physically and mentally, to get herself back is incredible.

“I think when you play for a bigger purpose, you start to see that professional rugby can so easily [be taken away], and you start to understand you’ve got nothing to lose. We’re starting to see that now with Abi Burton. She is being her full self.”

That internal drive is something that Fisher knows all about. In 2012, she broke her back while trying to take a ball at kick-off. The quadruple fracture left Fisher in a full-body cast for 18 months.

Remarkably, two years later, Fisher helped the Red Roses win the Women’s Rugby World Cup against France. Two years after that, she competed for Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games.

“I see similarities,” Fisher said when asked about comparisons between herself and Burton.

“She’s a great, powerful player. A weapon for that England squad, and she knows her role. It’s going to be a really exciting few years ahead.

“I know in women’s sport we talk about size and strength – she’s got it all. I do think what drives her is from within.”

In a June interview with RugbyPass, Burton claimed she was now “fighting to go on a Lions tour next year” after a breakthrough season with England.

After a supporting role for the Red Roses at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the 26-year-old was thrust into a starting role after injuries and pregnancies left John Mitchell’s squad light.

A starter in four of England’s five Guinness Women’s Six Nations fixtures in 2026, Burton has played at lock and in the back row for the Red Roses.

Last week, she was her team’s first try-scorer against the Wallaroos in Manchester as the team registered a 48-15 win in their opening WXV Global Series fixture.

Burton has been named to start again when England host Canada at Exeter’s Sandy Park this Saturday in a repeat of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.

“She’s seen it, been part of it from the inside and stepped away from it with a horrible illness that took her out of everything,” Fisher said.

“Then, eyes back on the prize of England, back into an England shirt. She’s in a great place mentally and physically. All she has got to do is maintain it.

“It’s one thing making England, but being able to get 50 caps, 100 caps, being a British & Irish Lion [is different].

“I think, as well, John Mitchell has created an environment where players can be authentically themselves.”

Paving the way for post-playing careers

Fisher spoke to RugbyPass ahead of London City 7s. The event, which takes place on Thursday, 17 September, at the Honourable Artillery Company, is entering its second year. It will see 11 teams pitted against each other and allow players to interact with the corporate world.

An ambassador for the event, Fisher has been passionate since her retirement about helping athletes transition from elite rugby into their post-playing careers.

“The fact that you’re bridging the gap between sports and business is a real opportunity,” Fisher said. “We’re always really excited. Really excited to back Dan [James, London City 7s founder] and his message.

“Sport and business can learn so much from each other. You’ve got athletes that come out of high performance and you can transition those skills. They can learn from each other.

“Having those conversations is something that people need to do more of. The mindset and what we can learn about high performance, optimising performance, is key to any business. For me, it is a no-brainer.”

London City 7s is world-class rugby sevens on your doorstep, fast, high-scoring action with great food, drink and an electric City crowd. A premium day out, whether you’re a die-hard fan or here for the occasion. Buy tickets here