RAF and plumbing: The lives of England’s stars

Since the introduction of professionalism in the women’s game six years ago, hooker Amy Cokayne is one of the few English players with a day job.

This Saturday will mark her third successive Women’s Rugby World Cup appearance for the 29-year-old, but she also serves as a police officer in the Royal Air Force.

Cokayne can concentrate on her dream of winning the World Cup while preserving her military career in the background thanks to the Elite Athlete Scheme of the Royal Air Force.

The Flight Lieutenant will aim to keep Twickenham’s Canada pack in check over the weekend before eventually returning to her role of keeping the planes in order.

She stated this week on the Barely Rugby podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live, “I’ve never arrested anyone.” “I’ve done all my training, but I don’t think I’ll do it because I’m an officer, so I’d just send someone.”

After England lost the World Cup final, Cokayne, who is a member of a military family, joined the RAF in 2017 and even gave up rugby for the following year.

She told ESPN, “I felt like I needed something other than rugby to figure out a career after the World Cup loss.”

“I think taking that break and realizing I still love the sport have actually helped my rugby career.” When I put my boots on, I still have that career to pursue.

Sarah Hunter worked for the RFU as a university rugby development officer, while Captain Katy Daley-McLean taught in Sunderland’s primary school.

Marlie Packer, a veteran back rower, was a member of the 2014 winning squad, and a week after winning, she was back at her job as a plumber after taking seven weeks of unpaid leave to prepare for and participate in the World Cup.

Packer stated at the time that she hoped to return to plumbing and play rugby professionally for a while. She may never have to put down the rugby ball and wrench again given the recent landscape change for women’s rugby in England.

I’m currently pursuing my level three coaching award. She stated to BBC Radio Somerset in May that she has had her level two for years.

I believe the sport has given me a lot, not just because of who I am today, but because I’ve traveled extensively and made friends all over the world.

One of the few women’s rugby teams with fully professional teams has helped them become the top player in the world and the favorite to win the World Cup final.

However, many of the stars who will line up at Twickenham this weekend had to find other ways to support themselves before reaching that level. The top of the English game is able to properly support professional athletes.

Before turning pro, Lark Atkin-Davies, a front-row legend, was a primary school teacher.

She said, “It’s nice to reflect and observe the journey you’ve taken.”

“I think there were some difficult times, and it’s not always been smooth sailing for me,” I said. “It’s absolutely love it, being professional for the past six years.

Before professional rugby started, Hannah Botterman, a fellow player in England’s pack, almost completely changed.

She described her experience as “a true van life,” adding, “I was a painter and decorator.” For one of my mother’s friends, I worked as an apprentice. I worked at the Harvester from 7 am until 4 p.m. each night before going to bed.

The intention behind the painting and decorating was for me to continue the business while the woman I worked for gave birth. But as soon as I was competent enough to handle it myself, I signed a contract with England and fired it.

When the coronavirus pandemic struck, even the young, cutting-edge women’s rugby players experienced the strain of a working life. While the RFU continued to play the XVs on furlough, players on sevens contracts did not. During the covid, several players were made redundant.

Meg Jones is unquestionably the best player at this World Cup because of her speed, strength, industry, and ability to perform in the right situations at the right moment.

She was considering a future working for Amazon, however, during the Covid lockdown.

Toilet breaks are not exactly a thing. You arrive at 5 am, and you leave without having to wee, Jones said, who had by that point already attended a Rugby World Cup final. She had been outside the center of New Zealand’s 2017 defeat.

It was frightful. My entire life was suddenly gone, and I had never had a job before. For the rest of my life, I just assumed I would be an Amazon deliveryman.

Instead of aiming for their first World Cup triumph on their own soil on Saturday, Jones and the team will aim to do so.