Women’s U20 coach Steve Halsey will be jumping for joy if England emerge victorious from their autumn international series after convincing the senior team to take up trampolining training.
England, who swept all before them to claim the RBS 6 Nations title last season, take on France in Marseille on November 2 before a rematch three days later in Aix-en-Provence.
That precedes three games against New Zealand from the end of November and the former London Welsh lock is adamant of the benefits trampolining can provide.
Halsey, a former PE teacher, sees a direct link between the two sports and enlisted the help of former Olympian Jaime Moore and GB trampolinist coach Tracy Whittaker at the Northampton Trampoline Gymnastics Academy.
And after inviting England’s forwards to take part he said: “The idea of the trampolining lineout jumping session came from my own experiences of the sport. As a former player and a PE teacher I know that there is a real cross over in skills between the two disciplines.
“As part of incorporating specialist sessions for our players this season this training session was aimed at improving our forwards’ body management in the air and improving their jumping techniques.
“It will also help develop their height and speed confidence in the air and improve their high hand skills such as catching and manipulation of the ball, again in the air.”
England Elite Squad:
Claire Allan – Richmond
Maggie Alphonsi – Saracens
Rowena Burnfield – Richmond
Rochelle Clark – Worcester)
Emma Croker – Richmond
Rebecca Essex – Richmond
Heather Fisher – Worcester
Victoria Fleetwood – Lichfield
Sophie Hemming – Bristol
Natasha Hunt – Lichfield
Sarah Hunter – Lichfield
Laura Keates – Worcester
Jane Leonard – Wasps
La Toya Mason – Wasps
Francesca Matthews – Richmond
Joanna McGilchrist – Wasps
Sarah McKenna – Wasps
Katy McLean – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Katherine Merchant – Worcester
Harriet Millar-Mills – Lichfield
Isabelle Noel-Smith – Bristol
Kimberley Oliver – Bristol
MarliePacker – Bristol
Fiona Pocock – Richmond
Claire Purdy – Wasps
Amber Reed – Bristol
Alice Richardson – Richmond
Georgina Roberts – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Georgina Rozario – Lichfield
Emily Scarratt – Lichfield
Tamara Taylor – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Amy Turner – Richmond
Danielle Waterman – Worcester
Kay Wilson – Richmond
Jennifer Brightmore – Worcester
Hannah Field – Wasps
Sonia Green – Saracens
Rose Jay – Lichfield
Charlotte Keane – Worcester
Ruth Laybourn – Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Michaela Staniford – Wasps
Lydia Thompson – Worcester
Charlotte Wild – Lichfield