England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line

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 playing for Samoa to starring as Jonah Lomu alongside...

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 against her future partner in the Army v Navy game...

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 you will also hear from her former coach and Red Ro...

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...

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 internation...

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...

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...

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 we...

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 als...

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 Col...

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 f...

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...

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 he...

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...

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 a...

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 Jami...

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 Stre...

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 Pa...

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 Univ...

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...

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 we...

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...

As one of the most talked about players of his generation, there are many facets to Manu Tuilagi’s life and career. However the Samoan-born centre has rarely told his story about some of the biggest moments. On this pod, Manu talks candidly about his arrest on a night out in Leicester, to thinking about retiring from the game when his injury problems were at there worst, as well as the close relat...

Maro Itoje is more than just a rugby player. From discussing racism within modern society, how black history is viewed in the western world and his connection to Africa and African art, the England lock talks candidly about a number of wide ranging topics in this podcast. Although a native of north London, Itoje opens up on his connection to Nigeria and considering it home as well as his thoughts...

Being diagnosed with diabetes and developing an obsessive personality are two of the barriers that Henry Slade has overcome to play rugby for England. The Exeter Chiefs centre talks in depth about his diagnosis with diabetes and how it affects his life as a player and a person, as well as the steps he took to overcome his small daily obsessions that would be a part of his daily life. Slade opens u...