England‘s rugby team received an unexpected visitor Tuesday as US Open champion Emma Raducanu met with the squad ahead of their crucial match against New Zealand.
The 22-year-old tennis star shared insights into her routines for preparing for major competitions and managing the pressures of elite-level sport. Raducanu also observed an England training session and participated in a lineout drill.
The visit comes after a past incident involving former England head coach Eddie Jones, who apologized to Raducanu in 2021 for citing her as an example of distractions impacting young athletes while discussing Marcus Smith’s development. Raducanu declined an invitation from Jones to attend an England match that autumn.
Current England head coach Steve Borthwick, who succeeded Jones, expressed his gratitude for Raducanu’s time. “To have elite sports people like Emma Raducanu visit, sharing with the players her experiences of preparation for sport and international competition at the very, very top level, it’s always a learning experience,” Borthwick saeid.
Borthwick added that the players were especially engaged by Raducanu’s discussion of the differences between individual and team preparation, and the importance of physical conditioning.”The players enjoyed listening around as she was talking about the contrast with that individual preparation, the need to ensure that they’re physically getting everything right in their game.”
