Champion Profile Tamara Taylor
The headmaster at Tamara's junior school (The Oratory Prep School), was a rugby enthusiast. Tamara always watched her brother and the boys play, so she pestered him until she was allowed to train! Her brothers club, Henley, started up a women?s team when she was 15 and so she joined. Tamara, who went to the same school as England internationals Ayoola Erinle and Andy Vilk, grew up in Zambia and Botswana before moving to Whitchurch.
Tamara started out on the wing, but as she got older she was moved to the 2nd row and back row. She went to Newcastle University in 2001 and played for her University and Novos RFC. She moved to Thirsk RFC to play in the Premiership in 2004. She has been a member of the England development program since 1999 playing in the Students, Academy, A?s and the Seniors.
Interviewed at Sports Cafe on 14/03/2007.
By Sporting Champions.
Q1: What are your major influences in life?
My family, especially my brother who used to play rugby at school, and my team mates.
Q2: What motivates and inspires you?
Seeing other people doing things and thinking ?I want to do that?? I don?t like letting people down and I am also very stubborn!
Q3: What has been you best moment so far?
Being a member of the World Cup squad, and playing at Twickenham in the 6 Nations this year.
Q4: What achievement are you most proud of?
Being awarded ?Player of the Match? in the test match in the 2003 tour of South Africa.
Q5: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
?You know what to do, it?s inside you. Don?t think about it, just do it?
Q6: What do you do to prepare on the day of competition?
Breakfast, walk and stretch, then unit meetings. I have lunch, team meeting and motivational video. I like to listen to my music on the bus to the ground. Warm up, play!
Q7: What problems and difficulties have you faced, and how did you overcome them?
Living in the North East when most training/games are in the South- I accepted that if I wanted to live in Newcastle I was going to have to travel further than other people, so I now book myself on a train in advance and take my laptop so I can do video analysis and work. Being dropped from the squad made me realize how much I wanted it, and allowed me to take the pressure off, enjoy my sport and ultimately play better.
Q8: Who would you most like to meet?
Simon Taylor
Q9: What is the best thing about being a champion?
Having the opportunity to meet young sportsmen and women and share my knowledge and experiences with them.
Q10: What is your top tip for young people?
Try as many different sports and training techniques as you get the opportunity to. Not many people find their calling 1st time around