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.

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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/

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▪️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandRugby/

▪️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@englandrugby

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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/

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MORE:

💻 https://www.englandrugby.com/

🛒 https://www.englandrugbystore.com/

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