MATTHEWS Alex

General
BACK TO UNION
After the England rugby sevens team had their contracts terminated in 2020, she returned to rugby union [15-a-side] when she signed for English Premier 15s side Worcester Warriors. "You've just got to take the opportunities that come up and that's what I'm doing. You control what you can control. But going back to club rugby has been a saviour. I would be waiting for 4pm for training, as it was the happiest few hours of my day. Then being back in the England camp has been great. It brings the structure I miss so much." (telegraph.co.uk, 15 Nov 2020; bbc.co.uk, 29 Oct 2020)

HATING SEVENS
Having first played rugby sevens at international level in 2013, she decided to stop competing in the sport before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as she felt she was not suited to the small-sided game. After playing in the rugby union [15-a-side] 2017 World Cup in Ireland, she was convinced by English sevens international James Bailey to give sevens another try. "If you had asked in 2015, I'd have said I hated sevens, I wasn't athletic enough for it and I was just a standard rugby union player. I didn't enjoy my experience in the last Olympic programme within sevens and I left just before Rio came around. When I was back in rugby union with England, we went to the 2017 World Cup and I wasn't sure what I was going to do after the tournament finished. I had been in professional rugby since I had graduated from university in 2014, but James Bailey convinced me to give sevens another go and I am so glad he did. I used to think growing up only superheroes went to the Olympics, but now I have the chance to potentially be there and that blows my mind a bit." (talkingrugbyunion.co.uk, 14 May 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She is the head coach for youth rugby organisation Didi Rugby Worcester. "Having started rugby at the age of three, I understand and live the benefits rugby has given me. It has undoubtedly shaped the person I am. Now I'm getting to give back and provide the same opportunity for other little ones today." She took up the post after the England rugby sevens team had their contracts terminated in 2020. "When we found out it was the end of the sevens programme, it was heart breaking. I went through a range of emotions at the time, a lot of uncertainty. What am I going to do with my life? Would I need to go and get a job - a 'proper' job? I panicked. But then I took a more practical approach and said to myself, 'What's the rush?' I wanted to make sure that I am doing something that I have a passion for and then Didi rugby came along. Didi will give me more of a purpose and it will be great to get young children involved in this sport and also get involved in the local community." She has also worked as a carer, with children with impairments and has a qualification in sports massage. (LinkedIn profile, 18 Mar 2021; didirugby.com, 05 Dec 2020; Instagram profile, 22 Nov 2020; englandrugby.com, 01 Jan 2018)