Home sweet home for new dad Joe
AS far as first months on this planet go, Hayden Launchbury’s first chapter is one compelling enough to make you want to read on.
Born ahead of schedule on March 3, promoting Blythe to the role of big sister, the handsome young chap didn’t have long with dad before he answered his country’s call of duty.
Just 24 hours after becoming a father for the second time, Joe Launchbury met up with the England camp in preparation for the Six Nations clash with Wales.
With a little over a quarter of the match remaining, the Wasps captain arrived from the bench to earn his 65th international cap while his wife Mallory and children watched on proudly from home.
There was precious little time to celebrate. By now the spread of the coronavirus was intensifying. The following day, England’s trip to Rome was postponed. Soon afterwards, the Premiership Rugby season followed suit for an initial period of five weeks. A time period that looks increasingly likely to be extended further.
Wasps’ training ground base at Broadstreet RFC was shut for business as lockdown came into full effect. For Launchbury senior, his career was paused and an unconventional, and wholly unexpected period of ‘paternity leave’ commenced.
“I am getting time with Hayden here now which obviously I never expected,” said Launchbury, who turns 29 next week. “It’s one of the best things to come out of all of this.
“It all went really well. My wife, Mallory, ended up having to get induced, it wasn’t what we necessarily thought was going to happen, it ended up being pretty good timing around rugby.
“Hayden arrived on the Tuesday morning and I was back with England on the Wednesday. We played against Wales on the Saturday, it was a bit of a crazy week. I guess it’s part and parcel of being a rugby player.”
Parents Joe and Mallory are counting their blessings. It was their second time around as parents having already brought Blythe into the world five years ago.
“I think when we were first-time parents with Blythe, we needed the midwife to come and valued them
coming so much and the community support,” explained the second row. “They came quite a lot in the first two weeks. Obviously we’ve missed all of that, we’ve not had anyone come, no one can. We’re absolutely fine with that, but if this was our first time around, we’re probably feel quite isolated.
“As it is, I’m not saying we’ve cracked it and know what we’re doing, but, we certainly feel a bit more comfortable. It also takes a bit of pressure off the idea of having to go out constantly and see people and do stuff, it means you can spend a bit more time at home and taking it easy.”
For Launchbury, a stop-start season is on pause. The Rugby World Cup delivered him a runners up medal but just 49 minutes of action. Subsequently, three further substitute appearances for England and four club outings combine to little over five hours of competitive action this term.
Again though, he is taking the positives. A schedule normally congested with club and country commitments is wide open.
“One thing we can control is our personal, individual fitness,” he said. “Parts of me have enjoyed that. I’ve probably, in my whole career, never had a decent pre-season apart from perhaps before the World Cup last year. I’ve never had an element of time to focus on getting fit and getting strong.
“I am using this as a chance to do some slightly alternative training, do some stuff that maybe I wouldn’t have in my normal programme if I had a game coming. Trying to be a bit imaginative with what weights I have in the garden and what bits of equipment I have. It is hard trying to prepare for what could come in terms of finishing the season, if that does arise.
“I am sure there will have to be an element of a re-training block, whether that’s a week or two.”
He concedes to being a tad selfish with his daily outdoor exercise with running sessions at Newbold Comyn in Leamington being preferred, in the main, to family trips out of the house. Not that family time is in short supply in the Launchbury household.
“We’re self-isolating with Mallory’s sister, they came to live with us about four weeks ago before it all kicked off. They’ve got two young kids as well, we’re all in it together, doing it together, which means a crazy house, but quite a fun house!”