England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line

From meeting her fiancé to giving her confidence on and off the pitch, rugby has given Zoe Aldcroft so much in her life so far. The Gloucester-Hartpury lock discussed the lack of female sporting role models growing up, now being rivals with her partner at club level with him working for Leicester Tigers, the added pressure of playing after being named World Player of the Year brought and her Jonny Wilkinson doll she carries with he...

From a desire to make people smile, to her photography and craft-making, Maud Muir puts as much into her time off the pitch as on it. The Red Roses and Gloucester-Hartpury prop opens up on her positive outlook on life, celebrating body confidence and size for strength and why she puts such an emphasis on rugby culture, and how that plays out in the West Country living near her club and international team mates.

In this pod you w...

After being attacked and tied up during a robbery in South Africa, John Mitchell's perspective on life completely changed. The Red Roses head coach talks in-depth about the trauma and recovery from that experience, how he has changed as a person from coaching the All Blacks to his first job in women's rugby as well as the personal difficulties he has had being a well-travelled elite coach.

In this pod you will also hear from his...

From a special friendship with Joe Marler, to doubting if he would ever play for England again, Dan Cole continues to make memories in rugby. The Leicester Tigers prop opens up on returning to the England set up after being dropped in 2019, the addictive nature of playing at Twickenham and learning the ability to help compartmentalise with experience and family.

In this pod you will also hear from one of his closest friends in T...

From USA to the West Country, plus a stint in Wales, Sam Underhill's journey to international rugby is an intriguing one. The Bath flanker speaks about finding love of the game in the physicality of it, the importance of sports psychologists as part of his preparation and growing up with three older sisters.

You will also hear from Sam's older sister Rachael, his former teacher Chris Carter, as well as England players Ben Earl a...

From a love of literature, to a talented young cricketer and a successful family environment, Ben Earl has had an intriguing upbringing. The Saracens and England back row forward opens up on relying too much on his natural talent as a youngster, seeing the funny side of how his celebrations are mocked on social media and thinking he might not get another chance at international level.

You will also hear from Ben's brother James ...

Rugby is a driving force in George Ford's life. The Sale Sharks and England fly half opens up on growing up with a famous rugby league playing dad, on the high standards he sets himself in the game, as well as every day life, being Coffee shop and restaurant owner and the difficulty he has when it comes to relaxing.

You will also hear from George's dad Mike, brother Joe and England players Dan Cole and Ben Earl.

FOLLOW:

▪️ Fa...

Ellie Kildunne loves weird, embraces different and individuality. The Red Roses and Harlequins full back understands the importance of image and being able to express yourself, whether that is through her photography, fashion or how she plays. Kildunne also opens up on building up muscles to play rugby and wanting to represent those who feel like they don't fit in.

In this pod you will also hear from her mum Alison, boyfriend Ca...

Whether it has been overcoming social anxiety or her adult acne, Holly Aitchison has overcome a number of personal challenges to become the person and player she is today. The Bristol Bears and Red Roses fly half opens up on growing up in Liverpool, sharing her personal struggles on social media and how she rebuilt her confidence.

In this pod you will also hear from her dad Ian, her former teacher and Red Roses' captain Gill B...

From a premature birth with her twin sister to selection heartbreak, Sarah Beckett has had to show her fair share of resilience. The Gloucester-Hartpury forward opens up on missing out the squad to New Zealand in 2022, how she hopes to inspire others who were born earlier than planned, the impact of body confidence issues and her continued work on mental health.

In this pod you will also hear from her dad Mark, her twin siste...

It was always about ‘we’ growing up with an identical twin for Tom Curry. The England and Sale Sharks flanker discusses their unique childhood together and what is now means playing in the same position, how the loss of his grandma affected him and his career to date.

In this pod you will also hear from his brother Ben, his sister Charlotte and his uncle former England hooker John Olver, as well as England players Danny Care, ...

Showing emotions was not something that sat easily with Ollie Lawrence. The Bath and England centre opens up on his emotional maturity journey, his growth in mindset as an only child and what it means to him to be a rugby international from a mixed background.

In this pod you will also hear from his old teacher Simon Dawes, current Bath team mate Niall Annett as well as England players Tom Curry and Danny Care.

FOLLOW:

▪️ Fa...

From accepting a rugby player's body image, to combining a teaching career with rugby, Lark Atkin-Davies' journey to international rugby has been a fascinating one. Growing up in a sport-loving cottage in the countryside, Red Roses and Bristol Bears hooker opens up on setbacks, commitment and her determination to become a professional player.

In this pod you will also hear from Lark's husband Jamie, her sister Fern as well as te...

Making mistakes were part of growing up for Danny Care. The Harlequins scrum reflects on his lapses when establishing his rugby career and how they took away the thing he loved - playing for his country. Care also opens up about the importance of family, growing up in Yorkshire and playing football with Jamie Vardy.

In this pod you will also hear from ex-international and club team mate David Strettle, former secondary school co...

Family is at the heart of everything Courtney Lawes believes in. The back row forward opens up about how his comments on social media on family life caused a reaction, and how he now reflects. Lawes also talks about race in rugby, different ethnicities playing the sport and being a dad.

In this pod you will also hear from Courtney's wife Jessica Lawes, former teacher Paul Bryant, ex-coach Chris Parr Northampton Old Scouts, as we...

Despite playing consistently for England since his debut, full back Freddie Steward still has his doubts. The Leicester Tigers back opens up on some of the mental hurdles he has overcome, explains the reasons why he quit some social media and what importance of family means to him.

In this pod you will also hear from Freddie's mum, dad and brother, one of his closest friends from Loughborough University as well as England team m...

Despite being an upbeat, bubbly and sociable person, Detysha Harper's life has not always been easy. The Loughborough Lightning prop talks about her upbringing in Salford, how rugby saved her, her experience being mixed race in the sport and her last minute call-up for New Zealand 2022.

In this pod you will also hear from her older brother Eze, as well as team mates Sarah Hunter and Tatyana Heard.

FOLLOW:

·  &nb...

As self-confessed introvert, Tatyana Heard is comfortable in her own company. The Gloucester-Hartpury centre talks about her journey back to international rugby after injuries, her job working for Asda during the COVID-19 pandemic, being proud of her roots in Yorkshire and her new found joy of reading in her own company.

In this pod you will also hear from Tatyana's brother Alexander, as well as team mates Sarah Hunter and Det...

As England's most capped ever player, Sarah Hunter has had her fair share of highs and lows. The Red Roses' captain reflects on some of her most painful moments on the pitch including losing major finals, and why the hurt of her team mates from those moments is something she has to live with every day. From starting out playing rugby league, to making her hobby her job, Hunter also opens up on the injury that she thought might end ...