Emma Raducanu, Britain's number one women's tennis player, has linked up with England's rugby team in a bid to help them take down New Zealand in the Quilter Nations Series. The 22-year-old tennis star was invited to spend time with the squad at their training camp in Surrey, where she held informal talks with the players and even took part in a line-out drill.
Raducanu, who won the US Open title last year as an 18-year-old qualifier, has been brought in by head coach Steve Borthwick to offer her expertise on dealing with pressure. The England rugby team are looking to cause an upset against New Zealand, who have not lost at Twickenham since 2012.
Borthwick said he was "grateful" and "privileged" to have Raducanu's experience on board, adding that she could share valuable insights on preparation for high-profile matches. The tennis star has been praised for her mental toughness in the face of pressure, having overcome a tough period following her US Open win.
Raducanu spoke about the challenges of maintaining focus and composure under intense scrutiny, saying that the law change allowing chasers to intercept aerial contests had made fielding such kicks significantly harder. The 24-year-old rugby player believes that this has made his job more difficult but also thinks it's a positive development as it adds to the excitement.
When asked about the significance of facing New Zealand, Raducanu said: "You can sense there's like that extra buzz and a bit of excitement and a bit of desperation." She acknowledged the All Blacks' iconic status and the intense atmosphere that comes with playing against them, recalling her own experience from their 2022 match at Twickenham when it ended in a 25-25 draw.
Raducanu, who won the US Open title last year as an 18-year-old qualifier, has been brought in by head coach Steve Borthwick to offer her expertise on dealing with pressure. The England rugby team are looking to cause an upset against New Zealand, who have not lost at Twickenham since 2012.
Borthwick said he was "grateful" and "privileged" to have Raducanu's experience on board, adding that she could share valuable insights on preparation for high-profile matches. The tennis star has been praised for her mental toughness in the face of pressure, having overcome a tough period following her US Open win.
Raducanu spoke about the challenges of maintaining focus and composure under intense scrutiny, saying that the law change allowing chasers to intercept aerial contests had made fielding such kicks significantly harder. The 24-year-old rugby player believes that this has made his job more difficult but also thinks it's a positive development as it adds to the excitement.
When asked about the significance of facing New Zealand, Raducanu said: "You can sense there's like that extra buzz and a bit of excitement and a bit of desperation." She acknowledged the All Blacks' iconic status and the intense atmosphere that comes with playing against them, recalling her own experience from their 2022 match at Twickenham when it ended in a 25-25 draw.
. I mean, who else can handle the pressure of winning the US Open as a qualifier and still manage to come out with valuable insights for the rugby team? 
It's like she's got superpowers or something 
. The fact that she's been able to share her experiences on preparation for high-profile matches is gonna be gold for the England squad. And can we talk about how cool it is that she's getting involved in rugby? I'm all about trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone 
. This could be a game-changer for the team, and I'm loving every minute of it 
I mean, I get it, she's got experience with high pressure, but this is a whole different sport. And what about her schedule? Is she just gonna take time off from tennis to hang out with the rugby team? 
The coaching staff should be able to come up with their own solutions for dealing with pressure, not rely on some celebrity athlete's anecdotal advice 
And I love how she's talkin' about the law change makin' fielding kicks harder - it's like, a total win-win for the rugby team! 
They get the benefit of her expertise, and they might just have a shot at takin' down those mighty All Blacks 
. Can you imagine watchin' Emma Raducanu doin' a line-out drill? It's like, totally mental, but in a good way 
I mean, who wouldn't want some mental toughness and composure under pressure from someone who's done it all in the tennis world? 
The law change in rugby has definitely made things more complicated for players like Jonny May, but I think Raducanu sees that as a positive - more excitement for fans! 
It'll be interesting to see how she can help the team prepare for high-pressure matches and maintain focus when it counts. And let's be real, facing New Zealand is always an experience you won't forget! 
The All Blacks' iconic status is pretty intimidating, but I think Raducanu's got the right attitude - a bit of excitement and desperation will definitely give them an edge! 
Still, gotta respect her enthusiasm! 
The fact that she's downplaying the impact of the law change on fielding kicks is quite revealing, though - it shows how much those changes have disrupted the sport. And can we talk about how weird it is to see tennis and rugby colliding in this way? 
! emma raducanu joining the england rugby team? game changer 
️!
. I'm all about the excitement and desperation when it comes to big matches, and I know this is gonna be a game for the ages 
! Go England, go Raducanu! 
! Emma Raducanu's mental toughness is pretty inspiring, especially considering she's been under the spotlight since her US Open win last year 
It's definitely a refreshing change of pace for sports partnerships 
it's gonna be ELECTRIC! 
I'm seriously stoked for the England rugby team and I think this partnership is gonna make all the difference 
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just heard raducanu is joining englands rugby team to help 'em take down new zealand 
like what r we even gonna do now? the all blacks are unbeatable since 2012 and now they've got a tennis player trying to psych them out lol 
... England vs New Zealand, who's gonna win? 
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. How much actual experience does she have in this sport? It seems like they're trying to create some sort of narrative around her "expertise" on pressure... I'm not buying it 
. Mental toughness is everything, especially under pressure 
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