Playing through a game while her dad was on the other side of the world after being rushed to hospital was one of the hardest experiences Alex Matthews has ever faced on a rugby pitch. The double World Cup winner reveals how she fought back tears at scrum time after learning a tumour had been found on her father’s spinal cord.

The Gloucester-Hartpury back-row also discusses life in camp as an introvert, how her natural instinct to care for others led her into a brief role in caregiving, and why she still finds it difficult to fully comprehend her position as a leader within the Red Roses.

In this podcast you will also hear from Alex's dad Dave, mum Vanessa, one of her first rugby coaches Bob Jones, as well as team mates Mo Hunt and Emma Sing.

This podcast was recorded in January 2026.

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.

Before the biggest tournament of her career, Kelsey Clifford had to deal with the passing of her grandad and the pain of his absence ahead of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup win. The Saracens prop opens up on the grief she had to deal with pre and post-tournament and some of the things she had to process to help her become a world champion.

Clifford also reveals the weight-loss targets she was set to become a Red Rose, and why she quit crisps to help, where her in-camp nickname of ‘Wesley’ comes from as well as her match day superstitions she must do to feel prepared for a game, including one she is trying to lose.

In this podcast you will also hear from Kelsey’s dad Michael Clifford, her partner and Saracens teammate Beth Blacklock and Red Roses players Mo Hunt and Alex Matthews.

This podcast was recorded in January 2026.

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.

Growing up on a farm in a small hamlet in Devon, Emma Sing was surrounded by cows, lambs and loved jumping around hay bales. The Gloucester-Hartpury full back talks about how she still adds her weight to farm work alongside her Red Roses career and studying Bioveterinary Science at university so she could give back to the family farm.

Sing also talks about being scouted by Exeter City Football Club as a youngster, how a sports psychologist helped her focus after losing her first England contract and being spotted in supermarkets after winning the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

In this podcast you will also hear from Emma’s mum Wendy, one of her first coaches Robin Thorne, and teammates Mo Hunt and Alex Matthews.

This podcast was recorded in January 2026.

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.

Missing out on World Cup selection in 2022 ‘shattered’ Mo Hunt’s world; she got drunk, turned her phone off and had to deal with thought of her mum quitting her job to watch her in a tournament she was now no longer playing in. The Gloucester-Hartpury scrum half discusses battling back from that time to her life before being a professional rugby player as a PE teacher, giving up chocolate and drinking ahead of tournaments and opening MoZo coffee shop with friend, and teammate, Zoe Stratford.

Mo also talks about how 2025 was a turbulent year for her featuring a break-up, a first solo holiday and becoming a world champion, as well as her pre-match routine and superstitions including a personal song, white feathers and a strict shaving routine.

In this podcast you will also hear from Mo's mum Sally, her sister Jess, as well as Red Roses' teammates Alex Matthews and Emma Sing.

This podcast was recorded in January 2026.

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.

Five nights in hospital with juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a blur for Guy Pepper; he was just seven years old. The Bath Rugby forward reveals how, despite ongoing steroid injections, his diagnosis only strengthened his drive to compete. Pepper also discusses being taught and coached at school by his dad, rooming with Henry Pollock on England duty, and the truth behind his love of clothes shopping.

In this podcast you will also hear from his father Martin, brother Max of Bristol Bears, and England team mates Henry Arundell and Joe Heyes.

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 cognitive behavioral therapy, to body confidence issues and a night that resulted in him being arrested, Joe Heyes has had more hurdles than most to overcome off the pitch. The Leicester Tigers' prop talks candidly about his sporting heritage, his grandfather and dad were both professional goalkeepers, while his mum played basketball for Ireland, explains why he left a potential football career and found rugby and the importance of detaching from sport - whether it's his love of history, cooking or gardening.

Heyes also opens up on how proud he is of his working class routes and the potential talent pool in state schools, how he struggled with bullying because of his height and weight, and how his pet gecko Albert accidentally joined him in class one day at school.

In this podcast you will also hear from Joe's mum Rachel, his Tigers' academy friend Xavier Purcell as well as England team mates Fraser Dingwall and Henry Arundell.

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.

After a childhood of 'tantrums', Fraser Dingwall reveals how he developed fierce competitive instincts on the pitch and in the classroom, and how a potential career in football was a possibility before focusing on rugby. The Northampton Saints centre talks about growing up with a Scottish dad and Geordie mum that has seen him representing both nations at rugby, and how his journey to Test ruby with England came about.

Dingwall also discusses why despite 'not being blessed with genetics' he uses problem solving to prove people wrong about his physicality, the Health Sciences degree he studied alongside rugby and how a late night prank with George Furbank went very wrong.

In this podcast you will also hear from Fraser's dad Gordon as well one of his first coaches at Cambridge RUFC Steve Jackson, as well as Guy Pepper and Henry Arundell.

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 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.