Helena Rowland
England Rugby International and Olympian.
Helena has enjoyed a meteoric rise in international rugby. Already an Olympian, she was also a key player in securing England’s second place finish at the 2022 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. She is also a quadruple Six Nations Grand Slam winner – all of this by the age of 23.
Helena made her England debut in November 2020, and since then has not lost a game in an England shirt. She has represented England at fullback, flyhalf and in the centre and it is her versatility in England’s world class back line that is making her a player to watch.
Before securing a full-time contract with the Red Roses in 2021, Helena spent two seasons with England on the Sevens World Series, and then the GB squad who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, with GB finishing fourth.
Helena also won the Tyrells Premiership title in 2018 with Saracens before moving to Loughborough Lightning where she is now an integral part of their set-up. She is also studying for a degree in Sport Science at Loughborough University.
Helena began her rugby career aged six at Aylesbury RFC, before playing at both Tring and Bicester RFC. Through all of these experiences, she has become an excellent speaker and is well versed in delivering to a vast array of audiences, on subjects as diverse as understanding pressure, the psychology of winning, working in a male dominated environment and challenging perceptions.
Career Highlights
Inspirational Speaker
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"Helena spoke in an informative and inspiring way, captivating the interest of her Year 8 audience. She drew on her considerable personal experience and illustrious career to date as an International Rugby player, to make parallels between sporting involvement and personal development that transcend all areas of life. She encouraged the students to reflect on the importance of teamwork, perseverance and collaboration and to seize all opportunities they are exposed to. The multitude of questions that the students had for Helena at the end of her talk showed that the topics covered had really penetrated their young minds and included areas such as dealing with injury and setbacks, self-esteem, persevering against the odds and standing up for your beliefs and values. Helena was highly relatable and kind and gentle in approach."
Liz Rodgers, Assistant Headteacher, Sheffield High School for Girls
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“It was brilliant to have Helena at the Barnes RFC Annual City Lunch recently. Helena worked really well with our other panellists. She provided a very enthusiastic and polished performance as one of England’s brightest rugby talents. It was a joy to welcome her into the Barnes family, and it was pretty amazing for a room of 500 to rise as one and celebrate her talent."
Michael Whitfield, Pink Rhino Consulting
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