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England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line is all about the players; telling their unique stories, in their own words. These first-person accounts will go in depth on topics they are passionate about, their life growing up and difficult times that have shaped them into who they are, along with special guest contributors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Not only did Tom Willis grow up with brother Jack and sister Annabelle, but the back row forward reveals how it was growing up as part of a family who fostered children during his childhood. The Saracens number eight also opens up on the difficulty of facing his brother for the first time on the pitch, as well as the joy of playing together, what i…
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Leaving your family and friends to move halfway across to the world and pursue a potential career is not for everyone, but Chandler Cunningham-South explains the reasoning for wanting to come ‘home’ to play. The Harlequins back-row forward explains life growing up in New Zealand, his matchday superstitions and book-writing ritual, his special relat…
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Before his retirement, Anthony Watson sat down to talk about topics that are important to him. From growing up in England and struggling with his Nigerian heritage, how rugby helped him get over his childhood shyness and how the importance of a visualisation with a sports coach became in his career because of nerves. You will also hear from his bro…
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From growing up on a dairy farm to the international stage, England senior assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth has had a intriguing upbringing that has made him who he is today. The former scrum half opens up on his upbringing, the respect for his dad who had a heart transplant to secret story of crying ahead of his last playing game, he opens up …
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After nearly having his life taken away from him because of sepsis, England assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge has a transformed outlook on life. After falling ill during a work trip to Samoa, Strawbridge received medical treatment but need to be put into a coma, he was resuscitated a couple of times and had said goodbye to his wife thinking he mig…
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The same day he was asked to be England captain, Jamie George found out his mum had been diagnosed with cancer. In this podcast, the Saracens hooker reveals the joy his mum got from watching him lead England, and how it kept her positive in her final months. How he had to balance his emotions when his first child was born 10 days after her passing …
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Having had to cope with a teenage diagnosis of epilepsy and being let go from an academy because of his size, Tommy Freeman has overcome many hurdles to make it as a rugby player. The Northampton Saints back opens up on his epileptic seizure that he thought was going to end his rugby career, how he mentally and physically had to deal with his late …
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From thriving while playing in a boys' team to embracing her dyslexia, Sarah Bern has always overcome challenges presented to her. The Bristol Bears and Red Roses prop opens up on a number of issues including how her dyslexia and dyspraxia affect her playing international rugby, how she began to accept her broader body size after struggling at scho…
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Being born in Leeds, growing up in England and New Zealand, and understanding your Samoan culture, there has been a lot of cultural influences Maddie Feaunati has taken in during her life so far. The Exeter Chiefs back-row forward opens up on coming to rugby late, growing up with her four sisters and the influence her dad has had on her - from play…
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Life away from rugby is just as important to Amy Cokayne as matters on the field. As an RAF police officer, the Leicester Tigers and Red Roses she has found comfort outside the sport after missing out on the chance to become world champions in 2017. From growing up with a nomadic childhood including her early rugby years in New Zealand, to playing …
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Being open and vocal is all part of what Meg Jones who she is. From growing up in Wales but choosing to represent England, to wanting to share her relationship journey with partner Celia Quansah and how rugby's community helped her find comfort in her sexuality and individualism, Meg's story so far in rugby has been a fascinating one. In this pod y…
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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 na…
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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…
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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 h…
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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 experien…
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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 sist…
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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 a…
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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…
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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 t…
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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 w…
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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 …
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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…
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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 N…
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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 th…
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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 f…
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