5. EVEREST CLIMBER INSPIRED RED ROSES WITH STORIES FROM THE SUMMIT
Reaching the summits and conquering your own personal ‘Everests’ have been a key teaching in the John Mitchell era with the Red Roses. The ability to take your game to new heights and reach previously unexpected peaks, is something that the England players are pushing themselves towards day in and day out at Pennyhill Park.
Mitchell and Packer had a back and forth with the reporters, about how a genuine climber who has reached the summit of Mount Everest has recently been into the Red Roses camp. Jo Bradshaw reached the highest point in the world in 2016 on what was her second attempt to scale the mighty Himalayan mountain.
Much like the Red Roses Rugby World Cup Final defeat to the Black Ferns in 2022, Bradshaw’s discussion likely spoke about going again after falling at the final hurdle. The speech was well received by the players and coaches, and has continued to motivate them for next year’s home soil Rugby World Cup.
MARLIE PACKER: “She was fantastic. Really, really, good. She did on her second attempt.”
JOHN MITCHELL: “I think you know, Marlie’s and my personalities probably pretty well by now. But we would probably try and climb it in the same day wouldn’t we!”
MARLIE PACKER: “Yeah, with just a bottle of water and a pair of walking boots.”
JOHN MITCHELL: “Yeah, I don’t think we’d be sitting here right now!”
“We try and theme it around our values, and we try and theme it around, the fact is that we our purposes are towards 2025.”
ZOE ALDCROFT: “I think it comes from, like I said before, like the bonds in the team. I think you do it for your teammates, you do it to make your family proud, yourself proud, your family proud, and also just the realisation that you can push yourself so much more than than your mind thinks.
“I think when you do have those big games on the horizon, it’s easy to flick that switch and be up for those big games. I think it’s just as important that you flick the switch for the little games as well because they’re all little peaks in reaching those Everest peaks.
“I think it’s important that you consistent throughout those tournaments, the six nations. Every single game is part of reaching those big peaks and putting out the performances, week in week out to be able to when we do get to the big games, really perform and reach the top of Everest.”