Jersey’s RNLI lifeguards provide safety cover for England rugby squad

Eddie Jones’ squad are staying on the island for a five-day training camp as they prepare for the Autumn Nations Series.

The squad was split into teams and tasked to swim a large paddle board more than 700 metres out to sea and back again, in a challenge designed to test them physically and mentally, focusing on their strategic communication skills.

Jake Elms, RNLI Lead Lifeguard Supervisor worked with the team’s coaches to design the training session, Jake said;

‘While the coaches wanted to ensure the course was physically and mentally challenging for the players in the water, we were able to help advise on how they could retain that element but ensure their safety, in what were quite challenging conditions too.

It was a great morning, the players were friendly, asking advice on the water conditions and really taking on board the safety briefing at the start.

We’re all huge England rugby fans, so it was amazing for us to meet the team and get involved in what will hopefully put them at an advantage when they play next month.’

The winning team was made up of Callum Chick, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Will Stuart and Ben Youngs.

Chick said: “It’s good to do sessions like this that aren’t rugby-focused. It makes us think about things in a different way, you have conversations about how to do things. It definitely challenged us mentally and physically.

‘We felt pretty quick running out but after the horn was blasted to tell us we’d been swimming for 20 minutes, we realised we were only halfway to the buoy – so that was a big shock.

On the way back Ellis [Genge] got us into a good swimming technique, which saw us back on the beach first for the win. It was a pretty tough morning, but we enjoyed it.’

After the session, players signed a RNLI lifeguard shirt to be auctioned for the lifesaving charity.

Notes to editors

· Please find attached two images of RNLI lifeguards providing the safety cover for the England rugby squad credit RFU Collection / Getty Images

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