Bird and LJ catch up with England Women’s assistant coach, Amy Turner.
Amy played 59 times for England, at scrum-half, centre and hooker. She played in three World Cups and helped England win seven Six Nations Grand Slams.
She is currently a World Rugby intern. Formerly a police officer, she worked for the RFU as a Performance Pathway Officer and coached men’s rugby too.
Here are the questions Bird and LJ asked Amy:
You had a very success playing career alongside 10 years in the police. How did you balance both aspects of your life? (Any tips you can offer to developing coaches or players on how to manage your time and still achieve your goals?)
As a player you were capped at 9/12/2, do you think this was a positive experience personally and for your development as a player? Does this now directly influence how you look at the positioning of players?
Do you have any moments that really shaped how you now approach your coaching? Specially thinking about situations of conflict or challenging behaviours.
Throughout your playing career, can you think of any coaches or situations that have developed you into the coach you are now?
As you develop your coaching now, have you had any mentors/people/moments to continue pushing/challenging your philosophy as a coach?
You have experience coaching both men and women, do you have to approach how you plan your sessions differently, or adapt your coaching style on field?
Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences on the world rugby internship program?
Bird and LJ caught with Rachel Lund, former England international and now a Gloucester-Hartpury player who is studying to become a physio.
They asked her about the following:
Her journey from minis player to premiership.
Combining and juggling her commitments as an international and club player whilst studying full time for a degree.
Whether she would have changed to a full-time contract if she had been offered it.
The importance of having many career options.
Her current degree in physiotherapy.
How her degree combines with her sport. MORE
Bird and LJ talk to Lynne Cantwell, the first high performance manager for the women’s game in South Africa.
Lynne is Ireland’s most capped (86) female rugby player. She was appointed to the South African role in February 2021. She has been a member of Sport Ireland’s board since 2019. She is also a qualified physiotherapist. MORE
Carol was a founder member of the women's RFU, captain Great Britain and England international teams in their games. She was the first woman to achieve a L3 coaching award in England and was performance director of women's rugby in England too.
As well as being awarded an OBE for services to women's rugby, she is in the World Rugby Hall of Fame and consults for World Rugby. MORE
Bird and LJ welcome Vicky Macqueen.
Vicky, who received a British Empire Medal for services to sport, was an England international with 34 caps, plus also representing England at 7s.
She has coach men's rugby with Hinkley, was director of women's rugby at Loughborough University, as well as coaching at Lichfield Women.
In 2015 she founded didi Rugby UK and now has franchises across the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Italy.
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Bird and LJ welcome Kate Burke, Lead Pathway Analyst with England Rugby. Kate has an MSc in Sports Analysis. After working in Wales with academy teams, she moved to the RFU in 2008, working with U18s and covering the men's teams. She then joined Bath for two years as head of analysis, before returning to the RFU to oversee analysis provision across the pathway, women's, 7's and referees' departments. MORE
