Tennis champion Emma Raducanu joined England's rugby squad at their Pennyhill Park training facility on Tuesday, bringing her elite sporting insights to the team's preparations for Saturday's crucial encounter with New Zealand.
The 22-year-old British number one, who made history as the first qualifier to capture a Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open, spent the day immersed in England's training environment.
Her visit formed part of head coach Steve Borthwick's ongoing initiative to draw wisdom from accomplished athletes beyond rugby's boundaries, seeking fresh perspectives to enhance the squad's performance ahead of their Allianz Stadium showdown.
Raducanu's hands-on involvement extended beyond mere observation, as she actively engaged in training exercises with England's players.
Emma Raducanu was giving England rugby stars tips on elite sport
|REUTERS
The former US Open champion took part in a mock line-out alongside props Fin Baxter and Will Stuart, successfully catching the ball during the drill.
She also received coaching in kicking techniques from fly-half Marcus Smith, whilst engaging in extensive discussions about leadership with captain Maro Itoje.
"Maro was chatting to her and we were all drifting off, letting two big dogs of their sports talk," Baxter revealed, describing the exchange between the two elite athletes.
Borthwick expressed enthusiasm about welcoming accomplished athletes from various disciplines to share their competitive experiences.
"Emma was talking to the players and sharing her experiences about preparing for the elite level of competition, which is terrific," the England head coach stated.
Steve Borthwick invited Emma Raducanu into the England camp
|REUTERS
"People like her are always very welcome because we learn a lot and the players enjoy learning from others' experience."
Baxter acknowledged the valuable lessons gleaned from Raducanu's visit, particularly regarding mental fortitude under intense scrutiny.
"The amount of pressure that she has to go under because of how successful she is definitely something we can all learn something from," the loosehead prop reflected.
England face the All Blacks seeking their first victory over the visitors since the 2019 World Cup semi-final, having endured four consecutive defeats including a narrow 24-22 loss at Twickenham last November.
Raducanu's appearance continues Borthwick's pattern of inviting external sporting figures to share their expertise with the squad.
Brighton's Premier League manager Fabian Hurzeler spent Monday and Tuesday with the team, whilst previous guests have included England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and former football manager Tony Pulis.
Emma Raducanu was not the only sports star to be invited into the England camp
| GETTYThe coaching staff have also recently collaborated with their cricket counterparts, demonstrating Borthwick's commitment to cross-sport learning as England prepare for their autumn finale against Argentina next Sunday.