“As always Kim has been fantastic and really pushedme to apply for
mymasters, with the intention of building on the skills I already have.
“I’m a qualified teacher, so I love communicating to people and
completingmymasterswill no doubt improvemy capabilities if I wish
to return to the classroom after rugby.”
The thought of preparing for life after rugby is something only
relatively new for Katy and the vastmajority of the newly formed
professional sevens squad.
ANEWWAYOF LIFE
Life before professional rugby sawKaty at the Bexhill Academy in
Sunderland, where she taught primary school students.
Now she finds herself with a full-time professional contract and
juggling her duties between travelling the globewith the sevens and
XVs squad.
“It’s definitely a different experience than I’m used to and did take
some time to adjust to, but I’m now really starting to enjoy it.
“Obviously it was an extremely hard decision to give awaymy job
as a teacher because I absolutely love thewhole idea of helping others
learn, but I think the opportunity to live outmy childhood dreamwas
too hard to resist.
“Especiallywith the opportunity to qualify for the 2016Olympics,
and potentially add a goldmedal to ourWorldCupwin, turning
professional was the best possible outcome for the squad.”
A FRESHDIRECTION
With the departure of long term EnglandWomen’s HeadCoach,
Gary Street, both the Sevens and EPS squadswill come under the
watchful eye of former YorkshireCarnegie player and coach,
SimonMiddleton.
“Gary has been around for a very long time and for themajority
ofmy career, so I thinkwhen you lose someone like that, it does take
a littlewhile to get used to.
“He’s been a phenomenal contributor towomen’s rugby and really
helped to put the game on themap, not just at the highest level but
also at grassroots.
“Simon is a terrific coach too though and someone that we all listen
to and take a lot of inspiration from.”
DELIVERINGON EXPECTATIONS
Inspirationwill be neededwhen the sevens squad continues their
tour around theworld in theWomen’s Sevens Series, needing to finish
KatyMclean
24 years later andKaty now finds herself at the pinnacle of English
Women’s rugby, with an increasing and overwhelming book of
achievements.
Not only is she the current EnglandXVs captain and amember
of the professional Sevens squad, she’s taken England to a Rugby
WorldCupwin, been awarded anMBE for her services to rugby,
named BBCNorth East Sports Personality of the Year and has
over 70 test caps to her name.
However despite her achievements, Katy is still chasing
success and is now looking to improve her pedigree off
the pitch.
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
The fly-half has applied to start herMasters in Leadership and
Management at NorthumbriaUniversity, and says she’s looking
forward to the challenge.
“I’m really excited about startingmymasters, generally
because I love learning and this is an area that I have amassive
interest in.
“My leadership is something that I’m always looking at
improving and this coursewill really provide a stronger platform
forme to lead from the front andhopefully drivemore success
for England.
“It will also be nice to have a new challenge that will test
mementality rather than the physical challenge that comes
hand in handwith rugby.”
Katy has beenworking closelywith her RPA Player
DevelopmentManager, Kim Johnson, towork out
ways to continue to grow her captaincy skills off the
pitch and improve her CV.
Ever sinceKatyMcleanfirst steppedonto a rugby
pitch at the ageof five, she’s beendrivenby two
goals. Firstly tomakeher family and friends proud
and secondly to represent her country at thehighest
level and experience asmuch success as possible.
CAPTAIN
INSPIRATIONAL
Tofindoutmore about theRPA’s rolewith EnglandWomen
please visitwww.theRPA.co.ukor contact Kim Johnsonon
0203053 6686or
in the top four to gain automatic qualification for Great Britain for the
Olympics next year.
While Katy is confident this can be achieved, she fully understands
the complexity of how difficult the sevens circuit has become since she
last featured in the tournament in 2013.
“Before this series, I had not played sevens for England since 2013,
so obviously during that time the level of competition and intensity of
matches have definitely increased.
“There are somany quality countries taking part, and that doesn’t
mean the usual suspects such as New Zealand andAustralia, teams like
Russia and Brazil are becoming incredibly dangerous.”
With expectations becoming higher since the new professional
programme began, Katy says she’s been impressed by howwell the
squad has adapted to the rising pressure.
“Having the opportunity to spend somuchmore time together
has really allowed the squad to better understand all of our tactics and
match instructions.
“We’re bondingmagnificentlywell together and themessages
are definitely filtering through to all members of the squad.
“We knowwhat we need to do andwe’re going to strive to
make that expectation a reality, nomatter howmuch pressure is
thrown upon us.”
FAMILY SUPPORT
Growing up in a rugbymad family, Katy has been around the game since
a very young age, so she understands the intensity the sport can create.
However she sayswithout the support from family and friends, her
role as captain of Englandwould have been a lot harder.
“They have been absolutely phenomenal and are the very best role
models you could ever wish for, in terms of encouraging and helpingme
work onmy leadership.
“When I was youngmy dadwould driveme all over the country,
from rugbymatch to rugbymatch andmymumwould be there to pack
my kit bag, wash all my dirty andmuddy clothes and then getme ready
formy nextmatch.
“It’s just all those little things that really hit home and inspire you to
want tomake them proud and perform at your best.”
Myleadership is
somethingthat I’malways
lookingat improvingand
thiscoursewillreally
provideastronger
platformformeto
leadfromthefrontand
hopefullydrivemore
successforEngland
20
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RPA
.co.uk
RPA
.co.uk
