Off The Bench EP.07 Laurean Biville

On this episode of Off the Bench we are joined by a specal guest Laurean bivlle a RLNational player for the French team as we talk about her story and how she found herself in the world of rugby and what it means to be athlete

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Welcome to Off the Beach, Offthe Bench, Off the Bench, Off
the Bench, Welcome back Off theBench, Episode seven and today I'm excited.
I'm very excited. We have aFrench Ladies Women International with us.
Lauren, welcome. Hi, howare you? How's friends? How it's

(00:26):
hot over here? Well? I'mgood, thank you. Uh it's summer,
yes, you're it's very hot goingto the beach. Yeah, I'm
just next this next to the beachat the Barnes of course. Friends.
My background is a Greek so Iwas born in Australia, but my parents

(00:49):
are not in for generation. Theycan't speak English basically. And I've been
to Greece lit the Greek Islands afew times. And I'm sure you've been
to the Greek Islands. My momis from an island called Scathos. I
don't know if you know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, So I've been
back a few times and I haven'tbeen for a while. But you know

(01:11):
what, there's something about going toEurope. What hell? Something called freedom?
I don't know. There's this freedomthat you have mentally which you can't
you can't have it in Australia,and I know you've lived it in Australia,
so you know exactly what I mean. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
you know. Yeah. Listen,our listeners and views would love to know

(01:34):
the Lawrence story. Tell me aboutgrowing up in France and how you found
this crazy game of rugby league.Well, I did start rugby late hours
twelve when I did my first training. Well, living in francis pretty nice,
you know. Actually, Steve Newsis a bit so I knew.

(01:59):
I live in the south from soour life is pretty cool. We are
near from the mountains and from thebeach, so it's good. So yes,
I did start footing when I wastwelve. I was playing with the
boys until fifteen years old, andI discovered rugby was my rigby league with

(02:20):
my little brother because when it wasreally young, it tried rigby union.
It didn't really like it because itwas tackling a lot, and well,
rigby union you cannot tackle that hardwhen you're young. So he tried rigby
league and he loved it. AndI was doing gymnastic at the moment when

(02:43):
he was playing rigby league, andI just I just stopped and it was
like a deal between my little brotherand me. It just said, oh,
you can't train one you can doone training with ruby with me at
rigby league. And I was said, yeah, second, and then I
started and I never stopped. Reallyto me, was it rugby league at
school as well or not? Not? Not rugby league? We don't have

(03:07):
rugby league at school. We start, we the federation start to try to
go to college or school to makekids discover rigby league because rugby union is
more famous in France than league.But no, when I did start,
we didn't have brigby league at school, so it was just my little brother,

(03:30):
just your little brother when you're playingrugby league. So I know football
is the biggest sport in France.Is rugby or basketball the second biggest our
basketball is not that famous. Ithink it's just yeah, it's just football
and brigby union after yeah, okaygood and then far away down rugby league

(03:53):
because only the self of France playsrugby league. Yeah, yeah, we
just play. I would just playfooting in the very south of France.
You we have one team this yearin Paris, but it's pretty new.
It's just yeah, this housetastic goodand and told me you you started playing

(04:15):
with with your brother with the boysat age fourteen, did you say what
happened at twelve? So twelve sorry, twelve years old? Yeah, and
then you obviously you liked the gameand you kept on kept on playing.
When when does it? When didit go to uh? Girls? Just
girls team? So in France wecan play with boys until fifteen years old.

(04:38):
So from my twelve to fifteen Iwas playing with boys, and then
at sixteen I had to play itwith a with a women's team. And
how that go? Where did youfind would you find the women's team?
It was that it is very,very different. I always always been with
boys. I grew up with boys, so I more the boys mentality,

(05:01):
and even on the game, itwas harder with boys than women. But
we I just love this game.So whatever I play with boys or a
woman, I just enjoy it aswell. So it was hard at the
beginning, but it's good. Ilove it. I love it. I
love it. Told me about yourfirst home you play with the women,

(05:27):
just just all the all the women. How'd you find that experience? It
was? It was good and fortrade to say that frustrating at the same
time because six are eight years agoa women in league was not developed,

(05:47):
like it was less than today.So it was very just the basic stuff.
You know, you couldnot play likelike profession not. It is just
just the basic things. And wedidn't have a very good competition eight years
ago, so playing with boys wasbetter. But we I didn't have the

(06:13):
choice. I didn't have the choice, and I just I just I just
I just did it and tried togive all my best drink all this gear
and to make sure we we canall grow up together. And yeah,
well it is still a good experiencetaught me. The first time you played
for for France, it was itwas seven years ago. Now I was

(06:42):
seventeen, so the national team isfrom eighteen years old and older, so
I was one of the first toplay and like eight at seventeen years old,
so I was the baby of theteam. And it was just huge

(07:05):
for me because I remember that I'veworked three years every day for this moment
because I've been lucky to go toa sports school, so I was at
school all day and then we hadtraining every day after school. So I

(07:27):
just worked really really hard with mycoach for three years for this moment.
And my first game was against Englandand I remember my coach told me,
oh, you're gonna play against agirl that is thirty five years old in
front of you, and I wasjust seventeen years old. I was like,
oh my god, I'm just gonnadie on the field today. And

(07:51):
we played at Avenue near from Marseille. It was just the best experience ever.
I think, even even if youlose your first game, or even
if your first game is not perfect, it's just it's just the first game
that you always remember. And Ijust, yeah, you never forget it,

(08:13):
and I remember it like it wasyesterday. So it was just it
was a really good experience. Sorry, Is that when you got the the
player of the match? Is thatthat the game or is it the other
one when you played in London inEngland? No, it was the one
I played in England. Yeah,last year, last year? Yeah,

(08:35):
yeah, okay, okay, wellthen we'll talk about that later. So
after the first after the first gameof at the same time, now you're
going to school still because you mentionedthat you've just finished the degree, okay,
and and and I'm assuming you've gotto do some sort of work to
support yourself as well. So you'rejuggling everything and you're and you're a young

(08:58):
woman at the same time, andyou've got friends and so you're just trying
to juggle everything up and then you'retraining two or two times a week or
three times a week. So Ido, I do, but it's what
I love. You know, We'vefinished training like two weeks ago, and
now I just don't know what todo with my life. But like they

(09:20):
go back home, I'm just like, I'm maybe gonna go for a running
because I don't know what to do. It's just I think it's just a
part of your life when even ifyou're young. I just start training every
day when I was fifteen years old, So it's just not a part of
my life. And you it's justa choice you make. And obviously your

(09:43):
friends, your family, they areall aware about that and they just support
you. Yeah, it's not easybecause obviously you miss a little of birthday,
are you know, party during summer. I'm going to stop my conditioning
program this summer tomorrow, so Iknow I'm gonna miss a lot of party
at the Bitch. Yeah, butit's just a choice we make, and

(10:09):
yeah, we just we just doit because we love it. It's not
like a sacrifice we do. Idon't feel like I'm doing lots of sacrifice
for that. So because you loveit, that's beautiful. Yeah, told
me, is your family a sportingfamily, your your mother, your father
and they like football or are theyinto rugby league? We are a very

(10:31):
big rigby family. We're just likerigby. It's the unstranged coming from a
French from a French person saying thatthey love rugby rugby league. So my
dad used to play rigby union butnow is training women in rugby league.
But yeah, we just play rugbyall of like different rugby. Yeah,

(10:56):
yeah, beautiful, beautiful. Sotold me after your first international game,
when was the next one you youplayed for France? After that, we
applied pretty much every year against England. The last game I've played just before

(11:20):
I left France was England and Italia. They came to Carcasson to play against
us. That god, yeah,oh it was good. We've never played
against against Italia before. We justplayed England. It's always good to play
a nude team and it's always goodto play international games. So that was

(11:45):
my last game before I left France. Told us about the night, was
it the day that you played againstEngland? You got you know, the
the person of the match, thelive of the match, or the basiness
fairest on ground in England. Yeah, yes, tell me about that game.

(12:11):
You should win that game. No, we lost, but things I
started playing with the France team.I think it was one of our best
best game against England. We weworked and trained really really hard for this
game together. We had lots ofcamp with the national team to get ready

(12:37):
for this game. It was abig night for us because we've we applied
the first twenty five minutes without Englandscoring any points. So really yeah,
yeah, it was huge for us. It was huge for us. We
didn't lose a lot. I thinkit was something like twelve or fourteen,

(13:00):
two thirty or something like that,and it didn't happen for years. It
was. It was a really goodgame. All the girls were involved in
this game, and we gave onthe field beautiful and yeah, it was
a big night and we were evenif we lost, we were really happy

(13:20):
about what I've done. Of course, of course, Listen who was catching
the team at that day wasn't Vincent. I can't pronounce his name, is
it? Yeah, it was VincentBauf. Okay, now I saw him
at the World Cup. I lovehim. He's the best coach. How
he expresses himself, and he's passionfor the game. Okay, I loved

(13:45):
him. Told me something about him, told me something good about him.
So, taught me something funny abouthim. Told me, does he does
he train his heart? Does heget angry? Told me something about him.
Well, we didn't know him beforehe went to it went main coach
of the team. So and weonly it only trained us for a year

(14:07):
and a half. But yeah,it's really passionate about the game. And
he tried to tried to give ustwo percent of himself during almost two years.
And well, the funny thing abouthim is that he is a teacher.
So yeah, when so when thingswere going grown up, when he

(14:31):
could see that we weren't into it. You know, a teacher always tried
to find words, different things tonot say that you're doing shit. So
it was just trying to find allthis like a sentence or something to say,
well, you know, you coulddo something better, just do not

(14:54):
say that we was ship. SoI think it's the funny part of him.
It's just trying to find always onall the words to say, another
word to say what he wants todo, what he wants to say.
But yeah, what is funny?Guy? He told me about your new
coach? Uh, I don't knowwas it? I can't see? I'm

(15:18):
sorry? Yeah, yeah, what'sit? What's what's his name? Your
new co Yeah? Now in Frenchwe say, but it's a Roman?
Yeah? Was it? My me? Big not? Yes? Sorry,

(15:39):
I'm just an Australian boy, that'sall right. What's what's he like?
He seems he bit younger? Yes, yes, so he he plied regularly
for years. He trained a reallygood team in France, but he never
trained any woman's team before. Whatwhat what we like and what I like

(16:03):
personally about him is that is likethe new generation, you know, is
it really wants women in team togrow and to make sure the front team
is woman's fronts team is getting moreprofessionalized, you know. So it's a
really new mindset that he is tryingto build in this team. So I

(16:25):
was talking to you before that wedidn't have this culture of the wind in
France and today that's what is tryingto put into this group is very professional,
very how do you say, likewe can talk to him easily and
it's just passionate, and it's veryfunny, even if he's a little bit

(16:48):
shy and doesn't want to show it, but it's very funny. Tell me
what what team did he play inFrance? And he played? Honestly,
I don't know, but I thinkit played for to lose. Yeah,
it played for a few teams,but honestly, I don't remember. I

(17:10):
think I wasn't listening to him atthis moment. Yeah, yeah, I
try to watch French rugby. ObviouslyI watched Super League, so I watch.
I watched cat Lands all the time, but I try to watch first
It's very hard in Australia, butI try to watch first division rugby league.

(17:30):
Again. Sometimes I get a blurrya blurry picture on my computer and
I say something with no commentary.I mean, but I'm interested. I'm
interested because, as you know,the in Australia, the Wristers coach,
he's married to a French lady becausehe cached Catalans, and he's he's very

(17:55):
passionate about bringing French rugby up toa high standard. So he continuously continuously
talks about France and how is howhe's involved, how he's involved, and
at the World Cup he was onhe was in the in the box for
the men. So maybe you sawmaybe you saw Robot there, Yes,

(18:19):
yes, I did. Yeah,Robert say, he's very passionate man.
Well again he's he's I think hischildren were born in France actually, so
I don't know. He's French.When he speaks his French, he's like,
he's he's French. When he speaksFrench, it's like the accent and
everything, you know what I mean. So it's very good. Taught me

(18:40):
about your taught me about your timein Australia when you played for the East
Tigers. Tell me about the culture. Shock, told me about the play
on field, how different it iscompared to France. So it was in
twenty eight and it was all newfor me because I was only nineteen years

(19:03):
old. I was turning nineteen andit was a big, big challenge for
me. But I knew that goingto the country Alfred bi Lake was the
best for me if I wanted todevelop myself as a player. And to
be honest, was the hardest yearof my life. Yeah, yes,
yeah, because as I said,in Australia there is a huge culture of

(19:30):
hard work, hard training, andyou you just want to win. And
because I didn't grow up like thatin sport, it was all new and
I had to build another mindset,a stronger mindset. And yeah, training
are just harder than in France.Conditioning is really really hard. But yeah,

(19:56):
everything was hard but good at thesame time. And what I found
super exciting is that all the girlsknow how to apply rugby, even I
don't know, even the worst playerin Australia is a good player, and
and so it was just good becausethey the girls just yeah, they know

(20:22):
how to apply footage, so youjust have to follow the wave. And
yeah, contacts are harder, games, he's harder. Game is pretty harder.
Did that help you along? Yes? Yeah, yeah girls, Yeah,
yes I miss I missed this teamevery single day. It's like a

(20:45):
big family. Is Tigers is areally big family, and it was it
was new when I first came inAustralia because no French player, player from
Europe came before me, so theyjust didn't know what to do with me.
But they did their best. Thathelped me a lot. Yes,

(21:08):
they were just really really nice peopleand the girl was were all amazing was
made So yeah, that was reallygood. Do you think and you know
the French team and yourself, doyou think there's some girls who can possibly
make an inneral W team, especiallynow that we've got ten teams this year,
Do you think there's yourself or oranyone who else seen in your team

(21:34):
can possibly play in arrold W.Yes, we we you know, regular
league in for US is not reallybig, but we do have very talented
players, both men and women's andthe new generation of players are very interesting.
So we have very young girls thatare in the national team this year

(21:59):
and I think some of them,yes, can can easily go to Australia.
I mean easily they could go toAustralia to to play in in the
team and maybe and yes, it'sgonna take sometimes, you know, because
as I said, we don't havethis culture of hard work, so they
will have to work really, reallyhard. But yeah, we do have

(22:22):
some talent that I can do it, I think. And we have one
in Sydney, Perin already over therewith the roosters. So uh huh,
what's her name? What's her name? Perryn? So in English you would
say Pern Perin Montsaga. Okay,what position is she? She was my
second row in national team. Andis this her first year or was she

(22:48):
here last year as well? No, she she arrived at Sydney. I
think around February this year. Beautiful. I'm looking forward to The girls will
start here in a month, sothis is very soon to be there.
It starts very soon. It starts. It's a very short, very short

(23:08):
season. They're narrow. Next yearis going to expand. But the good
thing is that they've changed the CBA, so now they get well, most
of them get well paid, nowyou know what I mean. There's a
few market players which get paid whateverthe club wants to pay them. They're

(23:30):
still got they's still got a salarycap. But now most of them are
well paid well. They don't haveto work for that that period of time.
So which is a good thing.Which is a good thing. I
can't wait it is it is?Yes? Yeah, Well, I actually
I made a T shirt. I'lltell you something, finely, I should
have wore it. I made aT shirt last year. Pay the girls

(23:52):
because there was a big, abig discussion about the girls. And they
don't pull raids that are pulled crowds. Okay, so how can we pay
them top? Well, what they'rewhat they're worth. And my view is
that in five years when they areraiding and in five years when they are

(24:12):
pulling crowds, why not invest now? Because how many girls are going to
leave the game, you know,I mean you won't get that quality because
every year the quality nial W improvesimproves, improves. Now you saw the
you saw the State of Origin.Okay, the girls, they had eighteen
thousand people at the ground, okay, and the TV ratings were over a

(24:37):
million a million viewers, okay,So that's huge. That for nrl W
is huge. Okay. On theflip side, the men's game had the
four point five million, so okay, but you know, I mean one
game is three years old and theother one started nineteen o eight, So
that's what is. I don't worryigue with everybody. I fight with all

(25:03):
my friends. I fight with thepanel, the quick answer team out that
we have. There's there's two ofus, there's three of us. Sorry,
there's two other boys with me andtwo other boys that don't that don't
really watch an r W. Ifight with them like like anything. But
yourself. You've played in Super LeagueWigham, So I mean, I don't

(25:26):
think it's a very big step thesuper League to nr W. I don't
think it's a humongous step. Itmight be a bit large. I watched
the I watched a super League inEngland, the women's game, and I
don't think it's such a large stepbecause we've got we've got a few English
girls who have come over this year, because they've expanded the company. We've

(25:48):
got ten teams and there's plans tohave more, so that will open the
door. I guess for international players, I would say, because we have
a Brazilian is it the Brazilian captain? She's come over? Yes, she's
coming Oh better than me? Yeah. I don't know exactly where she is.

(26:11):
I think she's around Sydney. Yeah, okay, it's not wrong.
I saw an article that one ofthe teams, so now I won't lie
to you. I can't remember her. I should go back and watch some
video of the World Cup, butI watched all the girls girls games.
I just can't remember. I justcan't remember remember her. But against someone

(26:33):
like a sort if you're if you'replaying super League, I don't know.
I don't think it's a very verybig step up to play in und Honestly,
but anyway, that's how did youend up going to these tigers?
By the way, they did contactme, okay, Yes, we we

(26:56):
have a coach, a French coachover there, Lohanger you okay, And
he's been living in Australia for yearsnow and he's very very involved in rugby
league and especially what he's trying todo for years is to bring some French
player in Australia to make them play. Yeah, yeah, yeah, and

(27:18):
so yeah and so yes they hecontacted me and it just asked me if
I wanted to go over there becausehe thought I could do something interesting and
so yes, it was training itstigers as well. Show that that's how

(27:40):
I went over there. Yeah,that's it very much. And that contact
you usable yes, they it's Rachelthe captain of Wigan. She did contact
me after the word up, justasking if I wanted to to try with

(28:00):
them in Super League. And Ijust love challenges and that that's that's why
a lot of this sport is thatit brings you lots of for portionalies and
and just allow you to meet newpeople and new new new new coach,
new new culture and stuff like that. So I just said yes, and

(28:23):
it was a really good experience.You have a good time in England.
Yeah, I loved it. Well, it wasn't we were in summer,
but it was raining pretty much everyday. But it's England, it's English
English, yes, so you knowthat you don't go over there for sun.

(28:44):
But but for rig Bit it wasjust really good. And it was
like rispend Wigan is very famous forbeing a really big family, and everyone
would come to me with opened armsand yeah, that was that was huge.
That was really good. I loveit. I love it. Anything
he wants to ask you a question, this is anything. That's because I

(29:06):
was over there. I was overthere, I'm just watching and I asked
to sit in because I had aquestion to ask you. So obviously,
like you're talking about, like aboutlike women's rug league and stuff. I
was just curious, like, becauseyou've had all these big opportunities, but
like they don't just come, likeyou have to work hard and earn them.
So where does that like killer mentalitycome from? Like what pushes you

(29:29):
to the next limit to be likethe better version of yourself to stand out
in this crowd? Well, Ithink it comes from my parents. They
always said if you do something,you have to do it. And it's
just funny because I just what pushedme all the time is my little brother,

(29:51):
because when we do like family dinner, we're just like, oh I
did it, and he said,oh no, I did it better than
you. So it's just, youknow, we just push each hardest to
do the best, to do thebest all the time. And I just
do it because I obviously enjoy playingSpot, but I enjoy it when I

(30:12):
perform, and so yeah, it'sjust it's just myself. I think I
just love to be the best.I don't. I don't do it because
I want people to talk about me. I just do it because I just
want to be the best of It'sjust my life. When I do something,

(30:33):
I want to be the best atit. So yeah, it's both
my my parents, my brother,and myself. Do you have any pregame
ritual? So what's sorry? Doyou have any pre game ritual? Do
you were the same? Do youate something before you know, before the
game passed? A lot of itarrow players, you know, do something

(30:56):
one thing before every game? Yes? Not really. The only thing I
do is just ten minutes before goingto the game. I just like to
be on my own, in myown bubble, and I just breath.
I do a lot of breath workjust to get ready. And no,

(31:22):
I don't have I just I justcan listen music or in the next game,
next game, talk to everyone,or I don't really have some Rachel's
just ten minutes before the game,I do breath work and that's it.
You have. Obviously, hard workbeats talent every time. But do you
believe in like manifestation and like visualizingyour goals in your heads? Yes,

(31:48):
I do. Well, it's justsomething I realized. It's funny that you
talk about that because I realized thatnot long time ago. I found a
book where I brought a laughing whenI was fifteen, and I wrote on

(32:09):
it that I wanted to live inAustralia, to play rugby, to play
a game in Super League, andto be a personal trainer. And that's
funny because all the things that Iwrote, I just did it. So

(32:30):
I just, yeah, I believein it. I mean, I believe
that if you if you believe insomething and you you work hard for it,
it can just happen. You justhave to obviously work hard, because
you don't have just to think aboutit. You have to think about it,
but to do the work for it. So yeah, I do believe

(32:51):
in it. Yes, told me. Mentally, how do you prepare mentally?
Is it a weak thing? Isit on the day? How do
you prepare yourself for a game?I'm talking not physically mentally now, yeah,
yeah, yeah. What I liketo do is during the week,

(33:13):
I don't think about it that muchbecause it just I just lose lots of
energy when I start thinking about thegame that's coming. So during the week,
I just do what I have todo. We have training to get
ready already, so I just don'tthink about it. But the night before
I like to get all my stuffready in my bag. And it's just

(33:38):
the moment that I know that thegame is coming. And so the night
before I go to bed, Iget all my things ready for the game.
And mentally, I just like tobe in my own bubble. I
can talk to everyone and and andyeah, I love with everybody, but

(34:00):
I just I just visualize why whatI have to join the game, So
I don't think about the group,just just focus on myself. I give
myself three goals. I have toto reach drink the game like tackle hard
or have a good defense or takethe line all the time. It's just

(34:22):
just three things and I just stayfocused on it and it just makes me.
Yeah, I say get ready forthe game, but I don't do
a lot of things, just basicthings that I think every athlete should do.
I'm not saying I don't have moremore things. It's more than enough,

(34:43):
beautiful, it's a fantastic Is therea like is there a Is there
an end of goal that you werelike striving for or is it just like
playing rugby as much you can oris it like an end goal that you're
working towards. So my main goalwas too I've you sleep play for an
Annarel team. That's why I wentto Australia a few years ago. And

(35:07):
it's still my my goal. Imean I was really close to to reach
this goal, and so I'm workinghard now to go back to Australia and
player in an anna Real team.So after that, I don't I mean,
if I do annual team, Idon't know what what four I can

(35:32):
I can reach, you know,but it's my main goal. Yes,
Now with more teams in the competitionand more to coming years, in a
few years, they're going to addmore teams. Do you think this is?
This is the opportunity now all verysoon the next couple of years,
because we've got ten teams now andthere's gonna be in two more years they're

(35:57):
gonna add another four. I think, yes, I think it's the moment.
I mean when I when I firstwent in Australia, there were only
four teams, so it was reallyclose. But yeah, I think it's
the moment. I mean there arenow ten, ten teams and it's used,
so they need players. So yeah, obviously it's the moment. But

(36:19):
for myself it would be more anadministrative problem to go back to Australia because
I already used my visa, sobut yeah, it is the moment to
I think this goal. You cancome on a work visa country. You
can come on a work visa becauseyou're working rugby leagues work basically. Yeah.

(36:45):
Yes, well I already used myworking holiday visa and I cannot use
it again, so the only wayI could come back is to sign a
professional contract with a an ERL team. It is extremely complicated, So sure
it is. That's good, that'sgood. Told me it is there going

(37:07):
to be a six nations coming upfor you guys. Whip whispers that whatever
a sixth Nations, I have noidea. Honestly, they no, they
didn't talk about it to us.I know they are trying to to do

(37:30):
something because we have lots of newinternational teams in Europe that are growing up,
like Italia, Serbia we do haveas well Canada, So even if
it's not from Europe, but wehave lots of teams that are growing up.
So yeah, I think they areworking on something, but they just

(37:52):
didn't tell us what exactly. Ido know that September there's going to be
a tournament and Greece is involved.And how I know that is a few
few of my friends daughters are goingto play for the Greek team, so
they need to win two out ofthree to qualify for the World Cup.

(38:15):
So I know that this tournament's allover all over Europe at the end of
the year. But I mean,you, guys, frances Is in the
in the World Cup anyway, He'squalify automatically. If I'm not right,
You're ranked fifth in the world,aren't you. I think your Francis are
ranked fifth or third in the world. I can't remember now, Yes,

(38:37):
I think we all fifth, fifthin the world. Let's go. Yeah,
yeah, I think so taught meabout Cameroon camera. Well, there
was a really nice experience. TheyThey text me while they saying that they

(39:00):
wanted to develop rugby league over thereand especially for women, and I tried
to help them as much as Ican because what they wanted to do and
what I wanted to do as well, is it is more than a game
in Cameron, and it is somethingthat helps women to develop themselves and buy

(39:28):
rigby league, that helped little girlsto go to school, to get some
education as well, and just tolet them play a sport. And it's
something I really involved too, becauseI'm fighting every day as a athlete to

(39:52):
make people understand that women can playsport and they can do it really well,
you know. And so in Cameronit was a big challenge for me
because they obviously didn't have lots ofeducation about rugby league, no material,

(40:14):
so no ball or no pad orstuff like that. And so we've built
a big tournament. The first yearwe had five teams I think, and
the next next tournament we had tenteams, just a big woman tournament and

(40:34):
I was extremely proud of it,and I had the how can I say?
I wanted to go over there,but I couldn't because I had to
go to England and so I couldn'tmake it. But I wanted to go
over there to see what I've builtwith them because it's just huge, and
I really hope they're gonna keep growingup because it's just what we the about

(41:00):
sport. It's just, yeah,the values I love about this sport.
And it was really good, reallygood experience. And a little birdie told
me that the tournaments named after you. Yes, yeah, yeah, there'd
be modestest. Yes, no,well that's funny because you know, and

(41:22):
there is a tournament with your name. Is it funny to think about?
It's fantastic, But yeah, youknow told me, how did I reach
out to you? Well, theydid contact me by Facebook because I share

(41:42):
my life a lot on social media. I just love to share a thing
about what I do in very Billywith people. And I saw that I
went to Australia, that I wastrying to do a lot of things for
women in sport in France and yeah, they want the presidents one day contacted
me saying, well we We lovewhat you do, We love your personality

(42:06):
and when you what you you wouldlike to to show to the young girls,
and because we would like to developbilly as well in France for in
Cameron for women and a little girl, we would love you, We would
love to work with you. Ijust said yes immediately, because yeah,

(42:30):
it's just you know, as Isaid before, experience and opportunities and it
just show you a lot of thingsabout life as well. Because when they
sent me videos about them drink training, they don't train on the proper field,
it's just send you know, theydon't have any any billy kits.

(42:54):
They just play with their hearts andit's just beautiful for me to see that.
And it's just even if it's notthe best in France in rugby league,
you feel very how do I sayit's not the worst? You know
there is worst in the world,and so you just feel grateful about what
you have here in France. Soyou know, yeah, I just loved

(43:15):
it. Sometimes what sport can do, and it's sort of rugby league thing,
what sport can do and if youput a little bit of time in,
a little bit of your time init's funny the difference you can make
to one girl doesn't matter ten twenty. If you make a difference to one
girl's life, yeah, you knowhow how you'll feel. I mean,

(43:38):
one day you might get a DMthanking you, you know what I mean.
That will make me feel. AndI'm a little bit older than you,
and this is part of my lifethat I would I like giving back,
you know. I mean, whateverI can give back, you'll give
back. And I find it intriguingthat you're such a young woman and giving
back so much so early. You'reway mature, way mature than any any

(44:07):
any young woman that I know.Mind you. I do find European not
only women, men as well matureare much quicker. And you've lived in
Australia, so you know what Imean. You guys mature are much quicker
than us for some reason. Idon't know why that is, but you
just you just you know Europeans do. I speak sometimes too. My niece's

(44:31):
nephews in Greece and they're twelve orthirteen and I think they're twenty. They're
just so mature, you know whatI mean, and worldly, So it's
it's amazing. Told me, whatdo you do for fun? Fun,

(44:52):
So you can't just work and sayyou got to do something to I don't
have fun, watch movies, watchfavorite cuisine food. Uh well, you
know, I'm not a very funnyperson. I just what I do for
fun is just going to the gymand and go to training. So no,

(45:14):
but what I love to do iswatching Netflix sometimes as everyone I think,
or I love natural as well.So I love to go in the
mountain on the beach and just enjoyyour day over there. Uh and obviously
twice a year I love to party. Yeah, because you can't do that

(45:37):
every day as a normal person.You yes, yeah, no, I
just yeah, I'm a very chillperson. I like to when I have
free time and it's something that doesn'thappen that much. I just like to
to stay with friend just having youknow, like a big French dinner.

(46:02):
And French is your favorite cuisine.I obviously it's just the best in the
world. And paper comes to Francefor that, I know they do,
I know, do we have somany French restaurants around here? Trust me,
tell me your your favorite gendre Inmusic I don't have. I can

(46:27):
listen to anything hip hop. Yeah, I love the old French songs,
yes, of course, but youknow what, I listened to him a
lot because Roman, the boy fromDijon, was always gone French music,
the old French songs of the background, always always. But he's not the

(46:47):
best, but he actually listens toFrench rep which I don't very different.
I personally don't like it, butthe youngsters love. No, it's really
good. Yeah, I lit todo it with my cousin. We don't
understand it. But it's just likeit was really hard. Even drill,
like French drill. That's that's reallycool. I hope like help you like

(47:10):
help. I was actually gonna askwhat's a what's a common what's the word
misception for the word about France ingeneral? Does that say that? Right?
But what are you what are youtrying to ask? Like, what's
a stigma that people say about France? Which is an absolute life? I'm

(47:32):
just yeah, I think the easiestand swe would be that we eat how
do you call snails? We eat? Yeah, we eat snails all the
time. Yes, it's wrong,don't but yeah, people. Sorry,

(47:57):
if I don't speak if I don'tspeak English and come to visit France,
will I have a hard time,or if I don't speak French and I'll
just speak English, will I havea hard time again the real France.
Uh, well, you know,French is really hard to learn. But
it's like all the different languages.I mean, if you go to the

(48:20):
country and you try to speak thelanguage, it would be easier for you
to to learn the basic. Uh. It's like when we go you go
to England and you don't know anyEnglish word. At the end of your
holidays, it's easy to say hello, how are you. I would like
something. You know when you wentto when you went to play for Wigham,

(48:44):
did you know English? Did youknow not English? Yes? Well
I'm lucky because I love speaking Englishand I did stop English when I was
five years old. So even whenI went to Australia, I could I
could speak English already, but inWigan it was difficult for me just because

(49:04):
of the accent. Because I've livedin Australia for two years, so I
really developed my English in Australia,so I got more of the Australian vocabulary
and accent as well. And inWigan it's a it's a very strong accent
and if you if you don't listenit if you if you're if you're not

(49:29):
used to it, you don't understandanything. And it was frustrating because we
get you can speak English, butyou cannot understand them. We'll not listened
to North of England people, Wigham, Saint Helen's ladies. I don't understand
them half the time. No youdon't. Or when I watch a Super

(49:50):
League and the commentators are talking,especially the guy Jamie James Buchanan, do
what they're talking about? Well,good, No, you don't know.
We've got a West Tigers in NRhas got a English backgrower his name now

(50:10):
but anyway, and he's he wasgiving a spray a spray meaning telling somebody
you know, off from the otherteam. Uh. And they asked him,
the commentator asked him, you knowwhat was he about to go?
Fine? I didn't understand nothing whathe said, not what he said he

(50:30):
kiss, you know what I mean? So no one understands him, John
Bateman, No, No, theyjust understand them. Like it's just like
a little a little a little countryin a big country. They are their
own language. Exactly did you endup playing against a girl called Hardcastle?

(50:53):
I forget a name, first name, yes, she sid Yeah, Amy,
that's it, Amy, Hardcastle onyour side. Then told me because
watching in in the World Cup,I told you what I think the manical
tackle, Amy, she looks likea very hard runner. She is,
said, we played in front ofeach other all the time when I play

(51:15):
against England. But she is verystrong. She's a very strong woman.
She's powerful, she and she's smart. She's this type of player that you
you won't see for a few minutes, you know, but when she will

(51:37):
take the ball, it's not fornothing. And she she's very smart and
yeah, very strong and she's theworst to tackle honestly. Yeah, but
she she's really nice. We talkedto each other's the last game. She's
she's a really nice person. Yeah, told me. Do you do you

(52:00):
watch a lot of n R ROW? I do all the time. Do
you get so where do you wheredo you guys watch in France? Where
do you guys watch an R rowon Sky? Yeah? You can watch
it on Sky or sometimes they putit on beIN Sport. But a few
of us, yeah, a fewof us got any well watch Yeah,

(52:27):
and of course so it is noteasy to watch any l but you got
any real watch of course you could. Is it easier to watch Super League?
Yes, I mean they just puton beIN Spot a little bit,
but not that much. So Ithink it's easier for us to watch any

(52:47):
l than Sulie. Yeah. Okay, that's interesting. Yeah yeah, but
the side of Origin, that's adifferent story. You can get start of
Origin easy. Yes, they putit on beIN Spot very good. Yeah,
so told me in terms of yourbecause you just finished the UNI,

(53:08):
with your with your job, yourfitness a job, what's what's your goals
there? I have no idea.I just wanted to do it because the
sport is just all my life.So and what I love it. What
I love in sport is that youcan help people. And so after that,

(53:30):
what I want, what I wouldlike to do is to work with
the young, young kids or youngpeople with some this is you know,
mentally or physically really and with yeah, just with with people with how can

(53:50):
I say mental or physical? Physicalproblem? Okay, but I don't really
know what I wanted what I wouldlike to do. I just wanted to
do this degree and personal trainer toto help people. But yeah, if
I if I got into it,I just would like to to work with
with kids, with people with someyou know, just physical and mental problem.

(54:15):
That's beautiful. Told me when whenthis preseason starts? Uh, so
preseason start on end of August.I think for us in the national team,
we start on Monday. Oh yeah, what's what's the picture for that?

(54:36):
Do you know the your next game? No, we don't have with
uh they didn't say anything to usyet, but the coach said that maybe
we would have a game around October. So because it's off season now,
we we have a lots of threetimes to do all the condition program and

(55:00):
gym program during all summer. Sothat's why we're doing now. The big
question I want to ask, howdo you feel about France not having the
World Cup? Because I'm sure youwould have been full to playing in your
home. Great at you in yourcountry. The World Cup would have been

(55:21):
fantastic. Yes, we were allwait, yeah, we wanted to to
make sure this work up would happenin France just because whole sport in France
is suffering a lot at the moment, and so for us, you know,
it's just the best thing that canhappen to a country to have a

(55:44):
walk up. So yes, weare all very sad. Yeah, but
you know, we we tried tostay focused on the next walk up.
Anyway, it's going to be harderfor family to come to watch us if
it's in Australia or New Zealand orI think it's going to be in both

(56:07):
Australia and New Zealand. Okay,yeah, so it is far away from
France, so yeah, it's goingto be hard. And we really wanted
it to happen in France just becauseit's just a huge communication around this sport.
Because if you go in this inthe north of France, people do

(56:27):
not know regul league. If you'renot from the south, you don't know
that regular league exists. So I'mnot sure we can't say anything more about
that. All tell you the reactionin Australia. Personally, I was so
upset when the government didn't want tosupport the rugby League and they worked out

(56:52):
the federation workout that couldn't afford it. I was I was so upset because
I knew, I know that brandsneeds a showcase, a showcase. I
like the world car that's number one, number two. All the media,
the the NRL media, and Idon't know how much you get there not

(57:16):
they were angry, but it wasa big talking point, a very big
talking point. And then of coursethey started talking about where it's going to,
where it's going to go now,because it's okay, it's okay not
having it in France, but wherewe're going to put it now, because
it's not four years, it's inthree years, and after this year it's
in two years. Because a lot, a lot of a lot of the

(57:38):
French girls would be in their primingtwo years. I would say, you
know, they're probably like yourself inthe next two years. This is where
your prime rugby league is and beyond. So it would be a great showcase,
not only for France but all therugby league well so where we're pretty
upset. But if they can't affordit, they can't afford it, unfortunately,

(58:02):
and and you'll get it. You'rejust gonna have to come to Australia
and all New Zealand. I don'tknow where you'll be, but you'll be
other either in Australia or New Zealand. So yeah, at least one good
thing if it comes to Australia andNew Zealand. I can guarantee you you'll
have lots of lots of you'll havebig crowds that I can guarantee you because

(58:23):
because in England it looked it lookedthe last World Cup, it looked like
there wasn't many people at the ground. Am I right, you'll you'll there,
Am I right? There wasn't alot of three, four or five
thousand people. Yes, for thewomen's team it was, uh, well
it's still more than usually, butit wasn't that big. You know,

(58:46):
it was more we had more peoplefor men's team. Uh, but you
know, we're just we're just gratefulfor all the people that came. We
had lots of families that came towatch her. So even if it wasn't
full of people, there were afew people that came to watch us.

(59:08):
And even people that don't really watchrugby league in England. I've talked to
a few people that taught me thatusually they don't watch rugby league, but
because they had the work up inEngland, they just went a few of
the games. They really enjoyed it. So it w wasn't I think,
yes, Australia and New Zealand willbe bigger than England, but it wasn't

(59:32):
that bad. Yeah, it looks. It looked fantastic in terms of watching
watching your girls play. And let'sforget the score. Let's forget the scores,
because you know, those only twoteams really in the competition, you
looked like you've had lots of fun. And I honestly believe and your and

(59:52):
your coach said, it's I thinkyou've learned so much. It just in
one game. And again, theschools is a null and void. I
believe you've learned so much individually becausethen you can see where the benchmark is.
You know what I mean. Youcan see where the benchmark is and
you know what you have to doto reach that. You know what I

(01:00:15):
mean. So but this is theproblem. Sorry, go ahead, Yeah,
we have the we have the sameproblem with the men's But even if
the men's are more professional than us, what happened for us in the World
Cup is that we I mean,I knew how it would be against New

(01:00:36):
Zealand and Australia because I've played againstand with few of the girls, so
I knew the level. But Ithink the group, the team had to
realize how it is, you know, because we just played against England every
year and we don't know anything elsefrom Australia or New Zealand. And yes,

(01:01:05):
we we've learned a lot, Ithink during this this World Cup,
because the girls realize that there isa big, big work we have to
do until the next work up,and that if you want to play in
the World Cup, you have tobe an athlete. You cannot be just
a rugby player that enjoy playing rugby. You have to to leave to think,

(01:01:30):
to train like an athlete and tobuild your mindset around it. And
it's something they do in Australia already, but it's something we don't do it
in France. So a lot ofyoung girls realize that during the World Up.
It's a little bit unfair because atleast half the girls pretty professional.
Now yeah, you know, Imean that's what they do. They wake

(01:01:52):
up, they go train, theycome home, you know what I mean,
they go train again. Your Imean, they do the Folve days
a week. It's it's unfair.You guys have got jobs, You've got
you they just they just play rugbyleague and it's a little bit of it.
Yeah, but you know they werelike, I mean, where we
are today Australia was there a fewyears ago and they just you know,

(01:02:16):
when I went to in Australia,the girls were not professional or yet,
so they were working all day andtraining before work or after work. So
they did have a big evolution,which is great and everyone, I think
is therey in spite of about thisGod. Today in France, yes we

(01:02:39):
work all day and we have totrain when we have free time. But
if we want to to to evolve, that's where we have. That's what
we have to do as well.I mean, it's the part of history
as well. It's a part ofour historic We we work today really hard

(01:03:00):
for to make sure that the nextgeneration we'll be able to to wake up
every day and just to go towork, but to go to work,
to go to the training, youknow. So yes they are professional now,
but they were like us before.It just happened now three years from
three years ago now when they startedin our w before that they'll part time.

(01:03:23):
And I remember watching three years agothe first games and I thought to
myself, oh my god, it'sthey've got such a long way to go.
Then the other year, wow whathappened? Then last year, wow,
what happened? And when I sawthe state of origin not the first
game, the second game, they'rejust going to get it when when the

(01:03:45):
girls start playing now in the inthe format because they're playing something called Tasha
Girl Cup now, but it's thejuniors are playing that not not not easy,
and Jessica, they're not playing thepressure girl cub anyway, when they
start playing in ror w now thenext month, it's going to be it's

(01:04:10):
going to be again another level,you know what I mean? Soa yes
to me. Did you watch someof the men's rugby league when you're at
the World Cup? Did you watchany mens Yes? Well, we we
watched a few of the games onTV, but we went to support the
men's team against the French team.Yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't

(01:04:34):
remember who they played. It wastheir last game, I think, yeah,
But we just we just came totheir games once. But we didn't
watch any other games. So yeah, just this game, but we watched
few of them on TV as well. Very good. Okay, have you

(01:04:56):
got anything to ask? Actually,I have one question to wrap it up.
Wrap it up. It's to somepeople, it's a very important question
to some people. To some othersit's not really a big question. But
I'm curious with you juggling everything aroundwith rugby and just in general social life,
but also wanting to be the wantingto be the best. I was

(01:05:18):
curious how many hours of sleep doyou get and how many hours do you
think is essential for your performance?So I don't sleep that much, to
be honest, and there's something aroundsix hours or seven hours, and I

(01:05:40):
mean it's not that bad, butit could be better. But I think
if you, if you really wantto perform and if you want to be
ready for your training every day,you have to sleep more than I do.
Yes, I mean, as yousaid, it's not easy to to

(01:06:00):
to to have your your job andto have your or your conditioning program and
stuff like that. So we arevery very tired by Yeah, I would
need to sleep more. Told me, because you've done a university course and
you're in the field nutrition, areyou right on it or are you a

(01:06:24):
little bit when it comes to offseason? Do you stray off a bit
a bit from your nutrition? Imean I don't think. I don't think
you got the McDonald's every day.No, But honestly, I'm not the
I'm not the best as as withnutrition. I mean, I know obviously

(01:06:45):
what I have to to eat andwhat is the best for me. But
I'm a very sweet person and whereI work, people give us a lot
of you know, cakes and chocolate, sorry, a lots I So no,
I try to to be aware aboutwhat I eat because obviously it's very

(01:07:09):
important when you when you train everyday, and especially when my job is
to produce for every day as well. But it is more important in off
season. And you know, Istart all the off season program on Monday,
and for two months I would haveto be very strict with myself and

(01:07:33):
stop eating sugar. So but yeah, I mean it is more important for
the players that playing in the nationalteam. We have lots of meeting around
food and what we have to eatand drink. So but we are not

(01:07:55):
professional, not as you as weare saying. We we tried to do
our best, but you know,sometimes during summer it is Listen, one
of the last question, last question, told me some of your favorite UH
players in the n R or then ROW or even in the Super League

(01:08:19):
you've played against. You've played againstmost of them, but taught me some
of some of the players that youlike watching yourself. Honestly, I'm terrible
with his name. I just don'treally know their name, but I know
that I loved to watch Rock Borrow. I think is honestly one of the

(01:08:43):
best player in Super League that wewe had. And yes, it is
one of the best player. It'sjust extremely extremely smart and because of you
know, it was really small faultplayer and especially on on his position.

(01:09:05):
Uh, people were almost like,oh, you can't. I mean I'm
more inspired by players his story andhow they they made it. And yeah,
Rob Borrow I think is one ofmy favorite in NRL. I don't
really know. I just don't knowtheir names, so I couldn't say the

(01:09:25):
name of them. That's okay,that's okay. Yeah, like I used
to like, I still like RobBorrow. Everyone love it for it,
for for his size, he playedwell above his stature. So yeah,
no, Rob Robert absolutely rock it. Uh. Thank you. I want
to thank you for your for yourtime. I know she's winded up.

(01:09:47):
Thank you, thank you, thankyou for your tomb I really appreciate I
really appreciate it. Uh. AndI'll be keeping h I'll be you've been
there. I'll be keeping an eyeon you. And if you do come
to Australia, you're going to haveto knock on my door. I want
to knock on your door then theyou know what I mean, take a

(01:10:12):
coffee and take you for a coffeeor something, because you've been lovely,
you've been fantastic, not only withyour time, your challenge. No,
thank thank you very much, Lauren, and all the best not only in
rugby league, but in your inyour in your work as well. All
the best in both. But I'mpretty thank you. I'm pretty confident in

(01:10:33):
the next year or two will bewe'll be seeing you out here for one
of the NR Real teams. I'mpretty confident it will be cool. Yeah,
I think it's for us. Thankyou very so, thank you very
much. And and yeah, wellwe'll sign off here from from off the
bench and we'll see you next week. Thank you guys,