England’s rugby squad received an unexpected boost ahead of their All Blacks test when British tennis star Emma Raducanu visited their Surrey training base to speak about managing pressure, preparing for high-stakes competition, and maintaining focus at the elite level.
The 22-year-old US Open champion watched training, joined a line-out drill, and shared lessons from her rapid rise in tennis, marking a notable turnaround after former coach Eddie Jones’ past comments linking her form to off-court distractions.
Current coach Steve Borthwick said he felt “grateful” for her insights, noting that elite outside speakers like Raducanu and Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler offer valuable perspectives to the team in the lead-up to major fixtures.
