HEARD MENTALITY: Tatyana Heard talks all things Six Nations

Gloucester Hartpury’s Tatyana Heard – and Harlequins’ Sarah Parry – tell Helen M Jerome how much the Six Nations means to them, as one has her tournament abruptly curtailed and the other seizes her chance for the Red Roses.

In every tournament in every sport, there are major injuries. For the Red Roses, both Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt and Morwenna Talling suffered leg injuries against Ireland in the opening match that will keep them out of the entire Six Nations. For Scotland, Emma Orr is also now out for the tournament.

For some players, however, their setback happened immediately before the Six Nations even kicked off. And I spoke to one of those unlucky ones, Tatyana Heard. The Gloucester Hartpury centre suffered a foot injury, but as you’ll discover, her enthusiasm for the tournament knows no bounds.

And as we also hear from one of those following in her footsteps for the Red Roses, Harlequins centre Sarah Parry, you feel like you’re witnessing the torch being passed in real time. Maybe Parry will follow the Heard…

Six Nations is coming up soon, Tatyana. What does it mean to you?

Tatyana Heard: I think every tournament you represent your country is so special and just being in that environment and being with that group of girls is a really special moment, a really proud moment.

There’s obviously so much history behind the Six Nations as well which makes it so much more exciting especially for fans.

But yeah, it’s a really exciting time.

Growing up, what’s your earliest or favourite memory from the Six Nations?

I think I would have to say when I was in college, and I was watching them. I honestly couldn’t tell you who was playing in the game, but I was watching our coach at the time, Nolli Waterman (Danielle Sian ‘Nolli’ Waterman) and she was obviously representing England in the Six Nations.

I just remember being so inspired because she was so close to us, in that she coached us every day, so I think that for me was the most exciting moment for women’s rugby in my mind because I was: oh my gosh it’s so exciting, but it’s equally so achievable.

Before that I didn’t know anybody that was in or around the squad. So I’d never experienced anything like that, and we went to watch a game live and I remember just having the best time because we were supporting, but just having such a great day as well.

Women’s rugby is so welcoming and so exciting and it’s just really fun that we’re now part of that.

It feels like the crowds are getting even bigger, so what are your expectations of the tournament as a whole?

Well, every tournament we go into, and as women’s rugby, it’s such a fast-going sport, so we’re always expecting more fans and we’re always welcoming in more fans.

I think with that comes a little bit of added pressure, but equally it brings so much more excitement to the game.

We love having fans there cheering us on.

When we get those moments and those opportunities we never ever take it for granted and equally we want to put on a show, and we want to get better every time – for international or club.

I think the game is getting so much more advanced as well. So it’s much more exciting rugby, but equally it’s so much more exciting getting those fans in, getting the supporters, getting people behind us as a sport.

Are there young England players breaking through, any we might be looking out for in this Six Nations?

I would say Sarah Parry.

I think she’s been amazing for Harlequins.

She’s definitely been such a stalwart in their team and definitely giving them so much going forward, but equally the way she attacks the line, the way she pulls the ball at the back, the way she kicks out and squares people up on the edges, she’s such a threatening player, ball in hand and then equally makes shots in defence left, right and centre.

She has really been great for Harlequins and I think that if – well, probably when – she gets an opportunity this Six Nations it’s a really exciting opportunity for her because she’s a very different player to what we’ve had before. She’s so calm, so collected in that 12 position and I think she’s got a big future ahead of her.

For people who maybe watch the Six Nations or the World Cup, tell me about the other nations’ players within Gloucester?

There’s loads of them!

Name a few.

Well, I think people should look out for Bethan Lewis for Wales.

She’s so strong for them.

And obviously, playing for us today (at Saracens), she didn’t put a foot wrong.

There’s players that that are consistent week in, week out and don’t necessarily get the credit.

Equally then, Sam Monaghan, no doubt representing Ireland again. Ireland are so consistent, so dominant in that forward pack and it’s interesting isn’t it, in the PWR everybody kind of comes together and when you see again Saracens today they have loads of Canadian players, all those girls that played in the World Cup.

The standard is getting higher and higher in the PWR so when you then see those players then go away to their country, they’re standing out because the PWR is so competitive and it’s such a great league to be in.

When they go back to their clubs, everyone’s thriving and that, I think, is why the women’s game is getting so much better, so much more competitive, because we’ve got such a great league that all the girls are playing in now.

Flipping that on its head, looking at the other clubs where there are Red Roses playing, are there ones you particularly look forward to coming up against?

I’d say Sarries is a big one.

We love coming up against each other.

We love that battle.

You want to be playing the best.

You want to be beating the best.

So it’s always really, really challenging and really competitive.

So seeing Red Roses like Zoe Harrison and Jess Breach, in the heat of the battle when you’re playing against them, are you able to talk?

Not really, maybe when there’s a million scrums.

So there’s a lot of time for the backs to have a little chit chat.

But you don’t get much opportunity in game.

It’s always nice to catch up after the games.

Obviously, someone like Marlie Packer, the way she plays the game, the way she gets those turnovers, the way she talks throughout the game is something that you want on your team.

When we go back into the Red Roses squad, she’s someone you want to be around.

You want her to bolster your team and give you that positive feedback and always drive that energy.

Equally then when you come away, play against her at Saracens, she’s a real tough competition.

If you were talking to somebody who had never been to a women’s Six Nations match before, how would you persuade them to come? What would get out of it?

I think that obviously it’s rugby at the end of the day.

If you’re into rugby, that’s enough.

I think there’s so many characters, there’s so much personality within the game.

But then equally, within the women’s game, it is so much more welcoming.

It’s such a different environment to men’s Six Nations rugby.

There’s so many families there’s kids there, there’s women, there’s men, the demographic is so completely different to a men’s Six Nations game and I couldn’t name a single person that’s gone to a Six Nations women’s match and regretted it, so I think that’s enough.

Speaking to Sarah Parry (below), I mention that Red Roses star Tatyana Heard picks her out as the young England player to watch.

She says you have a big future ahead, and I wonder what it means to you to get picked for the squad?

Sarah Parry: I’m just smiling even thinking about the opportunity of it. I think it means a lot.

I want to be the best player that I can be, and to be in that environment to learn off the likes of Tatyana Heard.

We played against her the other week, and she had a phenomenal game so just to learn off her, train with her, play against her, stuff like that that just only makes you a better player

What’s your first memory of the Six Nations, watching it?

Oh, that’s a great question.

I always remember watching it with my dad.

So I think like going to the games there at the Principality.

So I always remember that.

But then just in general for the women’s sport, just going to watch a game.

I remember going over to the World Cup in Ireland in 2017 when Wales beat Ireland.

Just to go over there, see what it meant to the fans.

The future’s bright and – for the Red Roses – it’s in safe hands with both Tatyana Heard and Sarah Parry…

Scotland v England is at Murrayfield, Saturday 18^th April at 1.30pm.

If you can’t get a ticket, watch live on the BBC.

Photos: Six Nations, Helen M Jerome