England Stalwart Vickii Cornborough Announces Retirement from International Rugby
In a BBC rugby union report, experienced England prop Vickii Cornborough has officially announced her retirement from international rugby. The 34-year-old loosehead, who made her Red Roses debut in 2015 and amassed 75 caps, including starting the last two Rugby World Cup finals, cited mental preparedness as the key reason for her decision.
Cornborough, who serves as the vice-chair of the Rugby Players’ Association, played a pivotal role in the development of the Rugby Football Union’s updated maternity policy, which was introduced last year. The policy benefited Cornborough herself, as she welcomed twin girls last July. While physically ready to return, the veteran front rower acknowledged that the challenges of new motherhood, including the lack of sleep, made it difficult to commit to the high-performance demands of international rugby.
“I’m probably the strongest I’ve ever been, but I’m just not there yet mentally because having twins is really hard,” Cornborough told the BBC. “Living off a couple of hours of sleep a night is not conducive to a high-performance pressure environment. Stepping away from the Red Roses and announcing my retirement is the right thing for me to do.”
Cornborough’s final match in an England shirt was the 2022 Rugby World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in Auckland. She and teammate Abbie Ward, who returned to international action in the ongoing Six Nations after giving birth to her daughter Hallie, were the first players to benefit from the RFU’s updated maternity policy.
While stepping away from international rugby, the Harlequins prop has maintained a successful dual career in the technology industry. Furthermore, Cornborough recently participated in Macmillan’s Brave the Shave campaign, raising over £5,000 in support of her sister Sam, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
The BBC rugby union report highlights Cornborough’s significant contributions to the Red Roses and her pivotal role in advocating for improved maternity policies in the sport. Her retirement marks the end of an era, as English rugby bids farewell to a stalwart of the game.
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