St Mary’s Students Go Behind the Scenes with Red Roses Ahead of Six Nations

Students from St Mary’s University interviewed members of the England Women’s Rugby team during an exclusive visit to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Led by Sports Journalism course leader Dr Daragh Minogue, the group met Red Roses players Emma Sing, Helena Rowland and Connie Powell, gaining first-hand insight into elite rugby, international competition, and the rapid growth of the women’s game.

The visit, hosted by Allianz in partnership with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), brought together students from the BSc Marketing programme, MA Sports Journalism and MSc Sports Management. The experience forms part of St Mary’s ongoing commitment to providing industry-facing opportunities that prepare students for careers at the highest level of sport.

MA Sports Journalism student, Abhishek Mavummootil, shared his thoughts on the study trip: “It was exciting and rewarding to understand first hand what it takes to become World Cup winners. As a sports journalist, you can’t wish for anything better, even more so personally as I’m from India where rugby isn’t as popular as in the UK. It was also a unique way to understand women’s sport at both elite and grassroots levels and I’m grateful for it.”

During the session, the England internationals reflected on their World Cup experiences and looked ahead to the upcoming Women’s Six Nations. They spoke about the excitement surrounding their opening fixture against Ireland this week, which has already generated record-breaking ticket sales - further evidence of the extraordinary surge in popularity of women’s rugby across England.

The players revealed that the training camp for the Women’s Six Nations has involved developing a more expansive game, integrating new players into the squad, while maintaining the fierce competition for places.

For the students, the opportunity to conduct professional-level interviews with international athletes was invaluable. Their work will be published on Sports Gazette showcasing both their journalistic skills and St Mary’s strong links with the sports industry.

This experience highlights St Mary’s University’s close relationship with the RFU and its continued role in supporting the development of future sports professionals. With access to elite environments and leading figures in the game, students benefit from real-world learning that bridges the gap between classroom theory and industry practice.

As women’s rugby continues to grow at an unprecedented pace, opportunities like this ensure St Mary’s students are perfectly positioned to be part of the sport’s exciting future.

 

Photo credit: Adam Richards