How therapy helped Sarah Beckett to process England heartache

Sarah Beckett almost walked away from rugby after losing her England contract in 2025. That came after a difficult past few years in the international arena for the Gloucester Hartpury No.8 as she was not selected for back-to-back Women’s Rugby World Cups.

Former England head coach Simon Middleton left her out of the 2022 team, but Beckett had won caps under the new head coach John Mitchell.

She was named in England’s 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations squad but didn’t play because of injury and was later left out of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 team. Now she is no longer a professional player. The accumulated blows have severely impacted her mental health and Beckett has started therapy.

The 27-year-old, whose last England cap came in 2024, said: “Genuinely nothing has hit me harder than this season. I have struggled mentally this season, even when I have been playing rugby. I took time out of rugby, I was lucky enough that the club let me go away and figure myself out and figure my head out. I just want to say I am really grateful to them for that. I don’t think many sporting elite environments would let me do that and have that time away.

“This season has been a massive challenge for me. I just think I need to reassess myself and I think I need a fresh challenge. I have been through the ringer a little bit in terms of my career at the moment. I have been thrust into balancing having a job and career alongside my rugby which is something I have not done before now.”

Beckett works for an events company which deals with food and beverages for places like Allianz Stadium, Scottish Gas Murrayfield and Silverstone. It is the added stress from balancing rugby and work that has affected her, as well as the impact of the blows at international level.

“Honestly, I have felt like I haven’t been good enough,” she added. “I was really anxious when the girls got back from the World Cup, whether I would be able to keep up. Would I be able to compete at this level again? Because I was told that I wasn’t good enough. It has happened quite a few times. Before now I have always thought that I am good enough and it is just a mistake or whatever else. But you get told so many times that you start to believe it.

“That is something I haven’t really struggled with before but this season it is. I have never had to balance having a job and playing rugby before, it’s tough. It is a whole different experience. You miss things, you don’t recover as well. It’s just a whole different experience. It is something I have struggled to adjust to.

“I have also had this mental battle about if I am good enough anymore and struggled with not being where I have been and not fulfilling my potential I guess.”

Beckett has been speaking to a therapist to help her and added she will continue to do so.

“I definitely sought help within that time,” she said. “I also spoke to people at the club. Murph [Gloucester Hartpury head coach Dan Murphy] was really good to me. The people who know me best, my friends, family, my partner [were great].

“My partner was at the World Cup so I was at the World Cup this time supporting her. That was a tough experience in itself as well because the last time I didn’t go to the World Cup [in 2022] I just ignored it. Whereas this time it was hard to ignore because it was here and it was everywhere.

“I definitely sought help for that and continue to seek help for when I feel like I need it. I cannot speak highly enough of my support system outside of seeking mental health support. My friends and family are always there. It’s hard, there is only so much they can do for you to an extent, the rest of it is up to you.”

Being closer to family is one of the reasons Beckett has decided to leave Gloucester Hartpury at the end of the season and move to Sale Sharks. Beckett is originally from Liverpool and is hoping rugby union continues to grow in the north.

“They have had an unbelievable following even when results haven’t really gone their way,” she said. “You have seen results be better this season, attendances go up and they have just announced they have had their best ever season ticket sales already and there is a lot of time before the season starts.

“I think it is only showing positive signs isn’t it? It is exciting to be a part of something like that. Hopefully northern rugby can be a powerhouse. I think it has been under-utilised and overlooked sometimes. I think it is really important to me for northern girls to see a pathway and see how they might be able to progress now without having to move to do so.”

Before she moves, Beckett will be trying to help steer Gloucester Hartpury to their fourth consecutive PWR title. They will play Trailfinders, who beat Gloucester in Round 17, in the semi-final on Sunday and Beckett says another trophy would be a perfect send-off for her.

She said: “I would absolutely love to finish my four years here with four championships. That is a hell of a record to have. It is going to be difficult, let’s make no bones about it. It’s going to be really tough.

“I think we could make a lot of excuses as to what has happened injury-wise and players we haven’t got available. But we are not here to make excuses, we are here to rise above challenges that face us and hopefully conquer them.

“I would love [to give] the club and community another championship. They have given me a lot over these last four years. I have been through some really tough times and the club has supported me through that so I would love to repay them with a title.”

The home semi-final, no matter the result, will also give Beckett a chance to say goodbye to the fans at Kingsholm Stadium.

“The community of Gloucester, they are so supportive,” she added. “They know who we are, we get stopped left, right and centre going to the shops and things like that. I don’t think that happens at many other places.

“I will miss everything about Gloucester, I have had a great time here. They have been super supportive of me both personally and professionally. It has been a tough decision to leave, I was very torn but I think leaving is the right personal decision for me.

“I am looking forward to being able to say thank you to them. They have supported us through a hell of a lot. They have been a big part of our success as well. I am happy I will be able to say a proper goodbye to them and hopefully hear the Shed in full voice.”