Advertise on podcast: England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line

From welding at the family business to only match fee rugby contracts, Ollie Chessum has had an unconventional route into professional rugby. The Leicester Tigers lock opens up on how he avoided a Premiership academy route from his state school, growing up in rural Lincolnshire and taking on the big brother role for his two siblings following his parents’ split.   Chessum also reveals the importance of his friendship groups in camp, the challenge of finding size 15 boots as a teenager and the various nicknames he’s got from different players.   In this podcast you will also hear from Ollie's mum Michelle Chessum, his coach that introduced him to rugby Ben Pickard and teammate Will Stuart. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are few players who have had a rise in rugby like Henry Pollock; from starting a season playing in The Champ, to The Prem, reaching a Champions Cup final, scoring twice on your England debut and selection for British & Irish Lions, it has been an unprecedented rise for the Northampton Saints flanker.    The back row opens up on why self-expression, showing your personality and being yourself will always be an important characteristic, his mischievous childhood where he was asked to leave school lessons and why family values and work ethic means so much to him.     In this podcast you will also hear from one of his first coach’s Will Parkin as well as teammates Fin Smith and Fix Baxter.   FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being doubted is something that Fin Baxter has become comfortable with; his youthful looks often meant he felt he was targeted during his playing career, but how he has used that as motivation to get where he is. The Harlequins prop also talks about how he keeps perspective off the field, why he quit his Civil Engineering degree to study Economics and his on-off relationship with social media.  In this pod you will also here from Fin's dad Ian about coaching his son to watching him play for England, Joe Marler on what it was like to mentor him coming through at Quins, as well as teammates Fin Smith and Henry Pollock.  FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From having to make the emotional choice between representing England or Scotland, to bailiffs threatening to enter his house in Worcester, Fin Smith has experienced more than most 23-year-olds. The Northampton Saints fly half discusses the hour-long conversation he had with his Scottish Rugby-loving dad on the decision to choose England, and then what it was like nailing a winning penalty in the Calcutta Cup.   A gifted sportsman, you will also hear how Fin called break on a promising tennis career to focus on rugby, how he went from a farce to embracing sports psychology, and what his British & Irish Lions selection meant to him following in the footsteps of his granddad. The self-confessed sore loser also discussed the pressure of playing number 10 and why he is studying a Economics and Mathematical Sciences degree alongside an international rugby career. In this pod you will also here from Fin's dad Andrew, his sports psychologist Andrea Furst as well as team mates Fin Baxter and Henry Pollock. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From finding herself struggling with mental health to focusing issues, Mackenzie Carson’s ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis came as a welcome relief to some of her struggles. The Red Roses and Gloucester-Hartpury prop opens up on her diagnosis to her coach since she started medication, as well as calling England ‘home’ after growing up in Abbotsford, Canada, as well as some of the sacrifices she made to pursue her rugby career. She also tells the stories of her job as a barista, as well as what life is like dating, and scrummaging against, her Red Roses’ partner Sarah Bern, as the both play for different teams in Premiership Women’s Rugby. You will also hear from one of her partner and fellow Red Rose Sarah Bern, one of first coaches Darcy Patterson, her mum Alison Reeves as well as international team mates Abi Burton and Morwenna Talling. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Morwenna Talling being born and bred in Yorkshire hits differently. The Sale Sharks lock and back row forward opens up as to why she values her northern upbringing so much and why she wants to help drive the game around where she grew up and now plays. Talling also reveals how the shock England call-up came as a teenager that saw her make a debut at 18, how some lengthy injury spells have helped her mindset, what being a leader means to her as well as the importance of mountain walks in her down time. In this podcast you will also hear from Red Roses team mates Mackenzie Carson and Abi Burton, as well as her mum Janet Talling and her first rugby coach at Malton and Norton RUFC Ian Hepworth. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After making peace with having to quit rugby because of injury, Emily Scarratt opens up on what it means to still be a Red Rose. The Loughborough Lightning centre talks about the neck surgery she had to go through with, growing up on a farm in Leicestershire and combining being a PE teacher with the start of her England career. The Red Roses’ record points scorer also open up in the origins and importance of her close friendship with Mo Hunt, how she deals with her introverted personality in camp and setting up her own podcast, The Good, The Scaz and The Rugby. In this podcast you will also hear from Emily’s dad Mark, brother Joe as well as team mates Amy Cokayne and Sarah Bern. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An induced coma, a psychiatric ward and three months with no memory are just some of the challenges Abi Burton had to overcome in the autumn of 2022. The Trailfinders Women back row reveals about her misdiagnosis with depression and stress, the aggression she showed towards her family and her eventual diagnoses of autoimmune encephalitis. The Great Britain 7s player also discusses her road back to rugby, realising a dream of going to the Olympics and her ‘rocky’ relationship with her image and body dysmorphia.   In this podcast you will also hear from her mum Sarah, research Mark Harper who identified her encephalitis as well as team mates Mackenzie Carson and Morwenna Talling.   For more on encephalitis please visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/encephalitis/ FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a football-loving childhood in Carlisle, touring with Jonny Wilkinson at 18 to balancing a university lifestyle with professional rugby, England head coach Steve Borthwick tells his story of how, and why, leading his country means so much to him. Away from the game he opens up about his Masters in Management helped shaped his philosophy, how he gets joy in other's happiness now and the profound moment that transformed his outlook when he realised he would not want his son's to be coached by him. Steve also reveals the bonds that sees childhood friends message after games, how his Chemistry teacher fostered his love of rugby and his 'crazy' training as a teenager to try and play for England. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From quitting drinking and gaming, to buying a horse and becoming a father, Sale Sharks hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie opens up to England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line about his life and career so far. From starting off in Cornwall not knowing rugby could be a career, to being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during a game and his lifelong friendship with Jack Nowell, 'Dickie' reveals some of the stories that you may not have heard before. In this pod you will also here from former England wing Nowell, as well as coach Richard Wigglesworth and team mate Chandler Cunningham-South. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 it was like being made redundant from Wasps and how his local rugby club played a massive part of who he is today. In this episode you will also hear from Tom's dad Steve, England coach Richard Wigglesworth and team mate Chandler Cunningham-South. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 relationship with his mum and his love of London. In this podcast you will also hear from Chandler's mum Caroline, one of his first coaches at London Irish and now assistant coach at Queensland Reds Jonathan Fisher, as well as England coach Richard Wigglesworth and team mate Tom Willis. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandrugby   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 brother Marcus Watson, sports psychologist and mind coach Don Macpherson as well as England players Ollie Lawrence, Freddie Steward and Danny Care. (NB This podcast was recorded in September 2023 before Anthony announced his retirement from rugby) FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ X: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 on what still motivates him. In this pod you will also hear from his dad Peter Wigglesworth, his wife Lyndsey as well as Chandler Cunningham-South. FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 might not survive the illness. He reveals what he went through at the time, his recovery and how he deals with it while coaching England. The New Zealander opens up on his upbringing and how he was brought into his local rugby club by Warren Gatland, his previous career as a teacher and how he shares his love of music with his daughters. You will also hear from his wife Laura and daughters Libby and Teaghin as well as England players Jamie George and Ethan Roots. For more on sepsis - https://sepsis.org.nz/ FOLLOW: ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redrosesrugby/ ▪️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/englandrugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedRosesRugby/ ▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/ ▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby ▪️ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@englandrugby ▪️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEnglandRugby/ ▪️ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/englandru...   MORE: 💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/ 🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.