Ahead of this weekend’s Allianz Cup clash between: Gloucester-Hartpury Women RFC and Harlequins Women, at the Alpas Arena – I spoke to Harlequins and England U20 international breakout star: Lucy Heryet.
Visiting last season’s Premier 15s Champions and a side who got the double over ‘Quins in the Premiership last season, Heryet admitted that herself and the rest of the away squad will be coming into this weekend’s match against Gloucester-Hartpury with added motivation …
“I definitely think we come in with more (motivation) to game’s like this, compared to a team that’s below us in the league. We bring a different side to us; you want to beat the Champions, don’t you? You want to go in and show them that actually: you won last year but you’re not going to win again this year! (We want to) Give them our all and I think we do go into these games with stronger players, with the strongest lineup and our strongest game strategy. We do change things slightly, but not to anything that none of us aren’t used to. But yeah, you do go in wanting to win against the winners, there’s more determination behind it from everyone really”.
The flanker broke into Quins’ first team last season and such impressive performances led to a contract renewal in July, however Heryet’s ‘proudest moment’ came back in March last campaign, when called up to the England U20 squad for her debut against Scotland …
“Being able to sing the national anthem to a crowd and not just in your house to your TV, was a surreal experience. Never in a million years did I think it would happen to me, it was incredible, you know?! Being able to wear the red rose, wear the kit, go out on that pitch against Scotland … it was just an experience I won’t ever forget! Fingers crossed this year that they do it again for us U20’s”.
Another hope that the England U20 international has for this season is to cement herself as a starter in the Harlequins side – despite being one of the youngest players in the squad. The confidence in herself to do this has not just come from her own rise and ability, but also from the help of her teammates, who Heryet believes made her realise her own potential …
“I wouldn’t say there’s a main thing I have learnt as I have learnt so much, from so many different people! Going in as an eighteen-year-old and having to step up and start matches because of injuries – in my third ever year of playing rugby and it being at a really high professional level just because someone was injured was really challenging’.
‘I think people like: Emily Robinson, Harlequins’ flanker, number 7 – she really helped me out and taught me everything I needed to know. Going into this season, Shaunagh Brown, Bryony Cleall – the really big names who have played international rugby for England have really helped to just boost that career in you and that ability that you have to go out there and play at your full potential’.
‘That’s everyone’s dream really isn’t it? To become that one starter who they go to and say you’re going to start the game, no matter who you’re playing, no matter who’s on the bench – you are always going to be that starter. So, I think that is the dream, but that only comes from putting in the work and dedication – you have to prove yourself and why they want you to be on the pitch starting”.
There is no doubt that Heryet has the potential to go on and be a regular for Harlequins and to achieve more – even on the international stage. But how has a girl from Worthing who has only been playing rugby for 3 years managed to reach this level?
“The jump though from Worthing college to Harlequins was absolutely huge because you go against people who have played for England, that are international players and then having to try and build yourself up to be able to play women’s rugby is such a huge jump, because you’re then one of the youngest and one of the smallest; running up against these huge girls who have so much; knowledge and experience with a rugby background … so it’s a massive jump and it’s quite hard to get used to – it took me about a season to get used to it to be honest with you, because you’re still coming up against people thinking ‘wow, you’re such a great player, you’re such a big player – and you think oh my god I’m new, young and small really!’
‘I think having my close friends with me helped that, because I do it with Grace (Clavering) and Sophie (Stafford) and we used to travel up together in the first season, so it’s good to have that person you’re so close to, who you can relate to what you’re doing with you – because I don’t think many of my other friends are able to relate to the intensity and how hard it is training and doing what I do, so having my closest friends there to do it with me just makes it seem so much easier to go on that journey with them”.
