This is a great place to be.”. England v Georgia, Autumn Nations Cup 2020: What date is the opening game, what time does it start and what TV channel is it on? Now I feel much more in control and I am really enjoying it." Long before they were international team-mates, the pair were friends, first meeting through playing league for Gateshead Thunder because of the limited opportunities for girls to play rugby union in the North East. While Hunter currently supports her playing career working as the forwards coach for her club, the fly-half’s career is somewhat more in limbo as she waits for a decision from the RFU regarding the reinstatement of contracts for XVs players.
I don’t want us to be in the same position in three years time - so we are at a really important juncture for the game.”One positive step has been the progress of the new Tyrell Premier 15s and Daley-Mclean has praise for England’s new top league.
She is back working as a teacher now and is impatient for the 15s game to keep progressing. Read our community guidelines in full, The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes, Katy Daley-McLean (left) and Sarah Hunter's relationship goes back over a decade, Sarah Hunter (left) and Katy Daley-McLean, who play for Loughborough Lightning and England, Sarah Hunter led England to the 2017 World Cup final where they lost to New Zealand, Furlough extension hailed as a 'God-send' by Championship rugby clubs, Jonathan Sexton concedes reaction to being replaced against France was a 'low point', Children bid goodbye to sport: A parent, coach and chairman recount their final experiences before lockdown, Autumn Nations Cup 2020 fixtures: Match dates, times and TV schedule. Daley-Mclean is a little more reticent, but would like to work in elite sport. “After the World Cup last summer I was frustrated to find myself repeating what I had said after the World Cup in 2014, about how the game needed to move forward. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. “We are very different people and see things very differently, I probably get a bit sensitive about things. This season marks their reunion at club level as Daley-Mclean has moved from her long-term club Darlington Mowden Park Sharks to Loughborough Lightning for the new Premier 15s season, which starts this weekend. Zola, the wedding company that’ll do anything for love, is reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience with a free suite of planning tools. Such is the bond between the pair, who both turn 33 this year, that they often finish each other’s sentences, but despite the many experiences they have shared – including both captaining England at World Cups– they possess contrasting personalities. KATY McLEAN Sport: Women’s rugby sevens Date of birth: 19/12/85 Home town: South Shields Club: Darlington Mowden Park In 2014 Katy Mclean captained England to … We've had a taste of professionalism and it seems to be that the only next step has to be a semi-pro or pro model for the game.
As Daley-Mclean, England’s fly-half, reminisces about her first impression of her old pal as a “very smiley big ball-carrier,” and Hunter, a back-row forward, pulls a face of mock disgust at their “hideous black and orange,” strip, a more giddy side is revealed of the pair. I wasn't sure that 10 teams would be competitive and what you've ended up with I think is a top six and then a bottom four, and that's very similar to lots of leagues and I think the quality of the players we're unearthing is proof that's it's working - someone like Charlotte Pearce for example getting picked up for her club form. Am I good enough? I think it's important to remember how they will have felt then going into this one, we were obviously elated but it won't be a happy memory for them.”Post World Cup seasons always throw up new talent, and England are no different with players like Ellie Kildunne and Charlotte Pearce bursting through. [2] Katy graduated from the University of Sunderland with a BSc in Sports Studies in 2007. France had a chance to win it, but the kick fell short and I was able to kick the ball into the stands. Almost two decades ago on the back pitches of Gateshead International Stadium, two 14-year-old rugby league players forged a friendship which would lay the foundations for a major turning point in English women’s sport. Barcelona have shared a trailer for a new documentary in which Shakira, Gerard Pique's wife, watches on as Liverpool come from behind to knock them out of the Champions League Latest News Mum 'murdered' after car 'mows her down after mounting kerb deliberately' Blackburn police have launched a murder enquiry and made an arrest after Alison McBlaine died with her son, 12, at her … It’s what it’s all about. Hunter has her eyes firmly set on the 2021 World Cup, fitness and selection allowing while Daley-Mclean has yet to commit that far ahead. Katy Mclean used to have to balance school teaching with her role as captain of England's rugby team. “I have always been lucky with the people around me. “The benefit to being three games in is we both have access to lots of footage so we'll both be well prepared for what the other has to offer by the weekend. It's those kinds of memories you take with you and you live for games like that.”She knows France present a serious obstacle to England’s title hopes on Saturday.
“I think I am at my most consistent right now. When it was Hunter’s turn to take on the captaincy which has included a Grand Slam in the 2017 Six Nations and missing out to New Zealand in the final of last year’s World Cup, her friend provided similar support. Hunter protests: “But I can get angry, though.” Daley-Mclean has the final word: “But your anger is mild, I would be the enforcer!”. Daley-Mclean provides an insight into how their friendship underpinned her captaining a World Cup-winning side. If they thought I wasn't getting the balance right they would call me on it very quickly.
Find out more, The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. We had a really tight knit group last year because you spend so much time together in a World Cup year and now we've had all these new faces come in and give it a really new energy - they just want to play and enjoy it.”If she had to give herself some advice all those years ago when she was starting out what would be it? She plays rugby union at fly-half for Loughborough Lightning in Premier 15s.. With Daley-Mclean pulling the strings this weekend, England are not in a bad place either. “It was something that was at the back of my mind but I felt I was in good form last year and even though the World Cup ended in disappointment, I was happy with my overall game. Everything You Need In One Place Now I feel much more in control and I am really enjoying it.". Right back when we first met, she had natural leadership qualities, that even at a very young age, people were inspired by her.”, Then part in jest, partly serious Daley-Mclean exclaims: “Could you imagine Hunter and Daley-Mclean for England!” Hunter adds: “For 10 years’ time.”, The idea takes grip. If that was a few years ago I would have been terrified of losing rugby - it was everything. England Six Nations and Autumn Cup squad 2020: latest team news and injuries. Considering the success the friendship has led to in their playing careers, there is no writing off a Hunter-Daley-Mclean coaching ticket for the next chapter of their story. “That was such a tough game. The qualified primary teacher has made the decision to dip in and out of supply teaching, “We are waiting at the moment, so once we have a better understanding of where the game is going to go, then I can make career plans,” she says.