How Helen Rose to challenge of Aussie road trip

By

Neil Moxley

HELEN HOUSBY will don her England vest next week – back in Blighty after a snap lockdown developed into a hellish three-month road trip Down Under.

The highly-rated Vitality Roses’ forward is set to resume her international career against Jamaica after a once-in-a-lifetime experience she hopes never to repeat.

Housby, 25, was contracted to the New South Wales Swifts and her season had just got under way when Covid regulations in Australia were tightened amid a spike in cases.

But rather than cancel the season, it was decided that her club should play on – only for what was planned as a two-week break to run over. And then some.

Housby (below), a Red Bull ambassador, found herself living cheek-byjowl alongside her teammates, management, medics – and their kids – as life living out of a suitcase turned into normality.

She said: “We’d started the season, played five matches and then there was a rise in Covid cases. We were told to leave Sydney at a couple of hours’ notice.

“We jumped on a plane out of there. We were told we’d be gone a couple of weeks but we didn’t return until the end of the season

– that was ten weeks, 14 league matches and two finals later. We ended up in every large Australian city, dodging lockdowns and isolations.

“There was the squad, the coaches, physios, doctors and their kids – it was difficult. It was hard enough for us, as adults, let alone the kids.

“There was a distinction between work and downtime. But during your relaxation, you were just stuck in your room and weren’t allowed to leave.

“We did have gym equipment in there. I had a bike in my room. But I started walking 10k from the door to the window of my hotel room. I measured the distance via the time I walked for.

“But we didn’t even have fresh air. It was air conditioning. The window just didn’t open.

“We were surrounded by one another. If we hadn’t enjoyed each other’s company, it could have been tedious.

Friendship

“It could have affected our form with cliques forming and little fights starting but I think we enjoyed it. A lot of the girls weren’t from Sydney, anyway, and we hung out together, it ended up being an extension of our friendship.

“And the results of that showed on court.”

Housby was unable to participate in the Vitality Roses’ series victory in New Zealand as she had duties with her club side.

But she says that 2-1 win will add to the growing belief within

Jess Thirlby’s squad they are building momentum towards next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Jamaica, in another three-match series over the next three weeks, will prove similarly tough.

The 6ft attacker added: “New Zealand has always been a notoriouslydifficult place to win.

“And it was done under pretty horrible circumstances, too. It was tortuous, they didn’t know from day-to-day if the games were going ahead.

“So to win generates a lot of momentum.”