Rowena in from the cold thanks to fridge benefits
Milk from her own farm helps lock win back place in the England set-up
PART of the secret behind Rowena Burnfield’s England comeback can be found in the fridge of her family farm in Hampshire.
The Richmond lock, who returned to the England team in November after two years in the wilderness, balances rugby with a full-time job in the dairy.
‘Growing up on the farm, milk was the diet of choice,’ says Burnfield, pulling out a freshlyfilled churn from the fridge.
‘They say my bones are made of steel!’
Avoiding broken bones has helped Burnfield catch the eye of Simon Middleton, the England coach, in the inaugural Premier 15s. The 29-year-old triplet has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the competition and now has her sights set on selection for next month’s Six Nations.
‘The new league has definitely helped,’ says Burnfield. ‘The intensity has gone up ten-fold and you know that if you play well, you’ll get noticed.
‘I’m on the farm in the day — maybe starting around 6.30 — and training Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’
Burnfield tends to more than 800 cows across 2,400 acres. Their organic produce ends up on the shelves of Tesco — and also mixed in to the secondrow’s protein shaker before and after training.
‘Back in the day, loads of rugby players were farmers or squaddies,’ says Burnfield. ‘It helps with the robustness and physicality.
‘Getting up, doing it again. It’s a repetitive routine but you also need to be adaptable. One day you’ll be up milking at 7 and the next day you’ll be up at half three. Feeding calves and milking is very hands-on — lifting buckets, putting cups on, driving the tractor. It’s very different to sitting at a desk sending emails, which I struggle with!’
The fellow triplets, Daisy and Mary, have also pursued outdoor careers, working as a lance bombardier in the Royal Artillery and a professional showjumper.
They all attended Peter Symonds College — the same school as England full-back Mike Brown — and played in the same sevens team.
‘We were always playing or fighting or making up some game with a bat and ball,’ says Burnfield. ‘We were never indoors. We had a lunch bell which Mum would ring and we’d all run back inside for dinner.
‘We made posts out of hay bales or goals out of jumpers in one of the paddocks.
‘I didn’t actually watch much rugby because we never watched TV; we only watched Arsenal. I could tell you every Arsenal squad from the dawn of time, but I didn’t necessary know the rugby players.
‘It was more the guys at my local club, Andover, who taught me how to pass off my left hand. Otherwise, us sisters would just kick the ball at each other’s face until we could catch it.’
Now back to international standard, Burnfield aims to make up for lost time, having watched on television when England lost to New Zealand in last year’s World Cup Final.
‘I watched the game down the local pub with a bunch of friends,’ she says.
‘To see them lose was quite upsetting but it’s cool to be back in that group.
‘If you push yourself, the rest will follow. If that’s good enough to get in the next World Cup Final, great. If not, there are no regrets.’
Burnfield’s style was recently compared to Martin Johnson and she is ready to add to her 42-cap haul.
‘Every squad’s goal is to get better and win,’ she says.
‘We’ve got a great squad. Whether it’s sevens or XVs, we are one family.
‘Everyone’s at England level and we’ve all got the same goal.’