Rugby World Cup Champion Tatyana Heard on the Women Who Shaped Her
One of England’s most celebrated female rugby players pays tribute to the women who inspired and supported her most.
Tatyana Heard understands the power of inspiration. Earlier this year, the England and Gloucester-Hartpury centre became a Rugby World Cup champion, cementing her place as a mainstay of the Red Roses midfield. Heard featured in five of England’s six matches during the World Cup, including a pivotal 65-minute shift in the final, before the team lifted the trophy.
Her rise has been anything but straightforward, though. Since making her England debut in 2018, she played a World Cup final in 2021 and helped secure back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025. But by 24, she had endured three ACL tears, lost her professional contract and had to take on part-time work while fighting her way back. Each setback only sharpened her resolve, and her comeback was fuelled, in no small part, by the women who inspired her throughout the journey.
Off the pitch, Heard is breaking boundaries in new arenas. Recently named the British Beauty Council’s first-ever Sport Ambassador, she’s championing the crossover of wellbeing, self-expression and the cultural rise of women’s sport. Reinvention and resilience have become the hallmarks of her career, and her momentum shows no sign of slowing. We sat down with Heard to talk about the women who have helped her along this road of grit, growth and gratitude.
Her Mother, Tracy
“She did everything for me. She was always there, making sure that my brother and I could get to training, driving us up and down the country. For girls playing rugby back when I was a kid, there weren’t many clubs in my area, so we would have to drive about two hours just to find a team to train with. It would be pouring down with rain pretty much every week, but she’d still be standing there. If she hadn’t been so committed to me being able to do what I love, I wouldn’t have gotten this far.”
Her Coach, Danielle Waterman
“Danielle played for England when I was a kid. When I was 16, I got the opportunity to go to Hartbury College (it’s mostly for rugby), and she was my coach there, as well as being an international player representing her country. It was the first time that I actually thought, ‘Maybe I can take this sport seriously.’ Everything I’d done up until that point had just been for fun, but then I saw firsthand someone representing her country.
Danielle was there day in, day out, trying to help us to become better players, but also better people. She definitely shaped how I am now. Everything I do – my processes, preparing for training and being the best athlete I can be – I learned from her. She had to do all that and at the same time look after 16-year-old kids who were probably a nightmare. I learned so much from her.”
Her Childhood Teammate, Rachel Lund
“When I first started playing at my rugby club, there was only one other girl, and it was Rachel. She was my age, and if it hadn’t been for her, I probably wouldn’t have had the courage to join in. When I realized there was another girl, I got involved. We’ve been really close ever since.
We played together all through school growing up, and then madly, I don’t know how it panned out this way, but we play at the same club in Gloucester, which is miles away from home. If it hadn’t been for her, I would never have picked up a rugby ball. She’s been supporting me throughout my whole rugby career. When we play on the weekend together, it’s just two friends having a good time. She really brings out the enjoyment for me because I know I’m just there with one of my close friends who would do anything for me, and equally, I would do anything for her. To have that connection still, about 20 years later, is a real value. We’re always going to work really hard for each other and just be kids having fun.”
England Player, Zoe Aldcroft
“Zoe is also from back home, and I’ve played with her since I was 15. She’s now our England captain and is the hardest-working person I’ve ever met. It’s funny, she’s very relaxed off the pitch, and then as soon as it comes to being in training, she’s so serious and professional. Everything she does is to get the best out of herself and the team. Zoe worked so hard to be where she is today. For me, being her close friend, it’s been amazing to see how much she does to inspire everybody. If things are hard for me, I’ll think about Zoe, and I know that she would battle through it, which makes me feel like I can do that, too.”
England Player, Emily Scarratt
“Emily is one of the wisest people I’ve ever met on and off the field, and definitely throughout this World Cup. I leaned on her a lot for her knowledge and wisdom. She always seemed to have the answer for me. I don’t think it would have been such a great team environment if it weren’t for people like her who make sure that everyone is getting the best out of themselves. She didn’t necessarily get a lot of game time in the World Cup, but she was always there supporting and was probably the most positive person in the group. This mindset is what really sets her apart from everybody else. I don’t even think she knows it, but the little details she sees when analyzing the game, I never would have thought of. I’ll miss her now that she’s retired.”
Katarina Johnson-Thompson
“I’ve always loved watching Katarina Johnson-Thompson. She’s inspired me in how she deals with her setbacks, how she bounces back and is open to being vulnerable. Equally, she’s not shy in showing off how incredibly hard-working she is. Katarina’s not afraid to talk about wanting to win and wanting to be better. That’s something that wasn’t always easy for me. She’s also had injuries and reflecting on my own career, it’s inspiring to see other people come out the other side. At the time, you do wonder how you’re going to get through it, but seeing others in a similar situation come back even stronger is so inspiring.”
