I’d probably rate my
body a six or seven
out of 10. It’s not
perfect, but that’s okay- even though I’m not
in killer shape, I’m still
in shape. I know I could
get those abs back if
I wanted to, but I’m
just not that motivated.
I don’t see my body
as a temple, I’d rather
go out and enjoy
dinner with my friends.
I know I don’t need
a six-pack or thigh
gap to be happy.
My figure is one of
a power athlete. I’m
broader and taller than
the others, but that
suits the position I play
as wing or fast prop
in sevens, where you
need strength, power
and speed. Personally,
I find muscles
attractive, and you
need them to be
a good athlete.
Hopefully, people
will see this shoot
and understand that.
Rugby is a very body-
inclusive sport. The
women who play are
very positive about
their bodies. If
someone is bigger,
it’s for a reason – to
do a job on the pitch.
There’s always going
to be ignorance and
prejudice with
women’s sport, but
you learn not to listen
to the negativity.
Gender goes out the
window when you’re
on the pitch. There’s
no need to show
femininity. Rugby is
an aggressive game,
but once you’re off
that pitch, you can
go back to being
the girl who wears
dresses and heels.
Bruises are a good
thing. They mean that
I’ve worked hard at
the weekend and
made some big hits to
get these war wounds.
You can’t be too
precious about your
body in rugby – you
have to be willing to
stick your head
anywhere. What makes
top-level players the
best is that they have
no regard for their
bodies whatsoever.
Even if there’s
someone twice their
size running at them,
there’s never any
hesitation about going
for the tackle. They
never worry about how
it’s going to hurt.GARNET MACKINDER, 28
Rugby player for Wasps and Nomads 7s98 | SEPTEMBER 2019 Women’s Health
I think most women
look in the mirror
and see the flaws no
one else sees. I used
to play basketball
competitively, but
I never really fitted in- all the women in the
team were tall and
skinny. But in rugby,
my body isn’t unusual.
There are 15 positions
and each needs a
different body type,
so everyone fits in.
In rugby, your body
changes throughout
the season. In fifteens,
there will be women
weighing 17st running
at you on the pitch, so
it’s in your interest to
put on a bit of weight.
But in sevens, it’s better
to be lighter and faster
for the sprints. During
a tournament, you can
lose 1kg in a weekend
with all the exercise,
so it can be a challenge
to keep the weight on.
To put on weight, I just
focus on volume. I’ll
eat what I normally do- pasta, protein, rice,
vegetables – but I’ll just
try to get more of it
down me. I eat at least
four meals a day, not
including snacks. The
main concern is making
sure you’re not hungry
before exercise – you
need to feel as good as
possible before a game.
Rugby can be tough
on your mental health.
There’s a lot of anxiety
around whether you’ll
get picked. Imagine
being in the middle of
a meeting at work and
getting the call to say
that you haven’t made
the squad – when you
spend 10 months a
year training five times
a week around work,
that can cause a lot
of heartbreak.
No matter your shape
or size, there’s a place
for you in rugby. That’s
the beautiful thing –
you can be the world’s
best rugby player no
matter your size. It’s
about skill, not how
you look. It makes you
realise there’s nothing
wrong with your body
shape – you just have
to find the way to
make it work for you.NINA VISTISEN, 24
Rugby player for Saracens and part of the
England rugby sevens^ development squadP
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