Latest news with #HannahBotterman
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Roses star Botterman on coping with ADHD
England star Hannah Botterman says she hopes her ADHD diagnosis proves that the condition does not hold you back. She is about to play for the Red Roses in the World Cup and hoping the team can go one better than their defeat in the final by New Zealand four years ago. Botterman admits that as a child, she was "a bit of a problem" and often got into trouble. "I was branded the naughty kid at school who wouldn't shut up," she tells BBC Sport. "I was looking at some old videos of me at a sports day, and I was thinking, 'How has no-one picked that up [her ADHD] a bit sooner?' "Everyone was on the start line, and I was messing around. I didn't realise how much it affected me. I would have loved my parents to know that I wasn't deliberately being the naughty kid." ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. For children, there are two main areas of concern: Inattention - this involves forgetting things, difficulty concentrating, organising themselves, or focusing on what a teacher is saying. Hyperactivity and Impulsivity – symptoms include struggling to stay still, fidgeting, interrupting people, overtaking people in a queue, not waiting their turn, or a lack of danger awareness. Botterman was diagnosed with the condition in November 2024 and says she has embraced it. "It's a big part of me and I'm not embarrassed by it and it's not something you should fight. "Children with ADHD can be branded with something they can have no control over. "But there are definitely struggles with it. "A lot of the time it's not necessarily the hyperactivity; it's more the mental stimulation. "We just want to be the most liked and loved in the room, so be kind to those who have it." 'I was given my first two caps because there were genuinely no props left' The front-row forward, from Hertfordshire, has rugby in her blood, with uncle Gregg Botterman and aunt Jane Everett both former England internationals. Botterman herself started playing at the age of four, but almost quit the game altogether before joining Saracens in 2017. As a teenager she was asked to leave Hartpury College and admits she was given too much freedom and got into too much trouble. "It was the first time I had been away from home," she says. "I wanted to be a 16-year-old and do what I wanted, when I wanted. I fell out of love with the game. "But being a professional rugby player wasn't an option for me back then. I didn't have that external driving force that younger girls have now. "If I knew I could have done this for a living, I would have been a better 16 year old." "I worked in a Harvester [restaurant], I did painting and decorating, and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. "I was given my first two England caps because there were genuinely no props left in England." Her international debut eight years ago gave her a focus and a renewed determination. "From that point on, I put my head down. I ate salads instead of pasties every day. I'd go to gym before and after work, and got myself in good shape to be called up for my third cap a year or so later. I worked hard and earned my place." Botterman, who moved from Saracens to Bristol in 2023, has since become one of England's most dynamic players, winning 58 caps, and helping the team to a 27-game winning streak. "My exterior look would suggest I am probably a bit intimidating," she says. "I may be one of the loudest in the room but ultimately I want to remembered as someone who cares pretty deeply about this team and what we want to do." But at the last Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2021, she faced one of the toughest moments of her career. In the space of a few days, an injury ruled her out of the semi-final, the final, and rugby for six months - and on the day of the final, her grandfather died. "That time was extremely difficult, but it gave me a wider perspective that there is a lot more to life than rugby." Flashing mouthguards to indicate HIA at World Cup 1,001 days and counting - unbeatable England in ideal World Cup shape Fast forward to 2025 and Botterman wants to inspire children across England as the Red Roses travel to Sunderland, Brighton and Northampton during the pool stages of this summer's World Cup. They face the USA at the Stadium Of Light on Friday, followed by group games against Samoa and Australia. The final takes place at Twickenham on 27 September, with the Red Roses hoping to lift the trophy for the first time since 2014. "To be able to take rugby around the country is really special. It will be a really big occasion, getting the support of the country behind us," Botterman says. "We have nothing to prove externally, but it's about proving to ourselves that we can lift the title." BBC Action Line: ADHD information and support


BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Red Roses star Botterman on coping with ADHD
England star Hannah Botterman says she hopes her ADHD diagnosis proves that the condition does not hold you is about to play for the Red Roses in the World Cup and hoping the team can go one better than their defeat in the final by New Zealand four years admits that as a child, she was "a bit of a problem" and often got into trouble."I was branded the naughty kid at school who wouldn't shut up," she tells BBC Sport."I was looking at some old videos of me at a sports day, and I was thinking, 'How has no-one picked that up [her ADHD] a bit sooner?'"Everyone was on the start line, and I was messing around. I didn't realise how much it affected me. I would have loved my parents to know that I wasn't deliberately being the naughty kid."ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity children, there are two main areas of concern:Inattention - this involves forgetting things, difficulty concentrating, organising themselves, or focusing on what a teacher is and Impulsivity – symptoms include struggling to stay still, fidgeting, interrupting people, overtaking people in a queue, not waiting their turn, or a lack of danger was diagnosed with the condition in November 2024 and says she has embraced it. "It's a big part of me and I'm not embarrassed by it and it's not something you should fight."Children with ADHD can be branded with something they can have no control over."But there are definitely struggles with it. "A lot of the time it's not necessarily the hyperactivity; it's more the mental stimulation."We just want to be the most liked and loved in the room, so be kind to those who have it." 'I was given my first two caps because there were genuinely no props left' The front-row forward, from Hertfordshire, has rugby in her blood, with uncle Gregg Botterman and aunt Jane Everett both former England herself started playing at the age of four, but almost quit the game altogether before joining Saracens in a teenager she was asked to leave Hartpury College and admits she was given too much freedom and got into too much trouble."It was the first time I had been away from home," she says. "I wanted to be a 16-year-old and do what I wanted, when I wanted. I fell out of love with the game. "But being a professional rugby player wasn't an option for me back then. I didn't have that external driving force that younger girls have now. "If I knew I could have done this for a living, I would have been a better 16 year old.""I worked in a Harvester [restaurant], I did painting and decorating, and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. "I was given my first two England caps because there were genuinely no props left in England."Her international debut eight years ago gave her a focus and a renewed determination."From that point on, I put my head down. I ate salads instead of pasties every day. I'd go to gym before and after work, and got myself in good shape to be called up for my third cap a year or so later. I worked hard and earned my place."Botterman, who moved from Saracens to Bristol in 2023, has since become one of England's most dynamic players, winning 58 caps, and helping the team to a 27-game winning streak."My exterior look would suggest I am probably a bit intimidating," she says."I may be one of the loudest in the room but ultimately I want to remembered as someone who cares pretty deeply about this team and what we want to do."But at the last Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2021, she faced one of the toughest moments of her the space of a few days, an injury ruled her out of the semi-final, the final, and rugby for six months - and on the day of the final, her grandfather died."That time was extremely difficult, but it gave me a wider perspective that there is a lot more to life than rugby." Fast forward to 2025 and Botterman wants to inspire children across England as the Red Roses travel to Sunderland, Brighton and Northampton during the pool stages of this summer's World face the USA at the Stadium Of Light on Friday, followed by group games against Samoa and final takes place at Twickenham on 27 September, with the Red Roses hoping to lift the trophy for the first time since 2014. "To be able to take rugby around the country is really special. It will be a really big occasion, getting the support of the country behind us," Botterman says."We have nothing to prove externally, but it's about proving to ourselves that we can lift the title."


Powys County Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Hannah Botterman hopes England can emulate Lionesses effect at Rugby World Cup
England prop Hannah Botterman is hoping a home Women's Rugby World Cup can have a 'similar effect' to the success of the Lionesses. The Red Roses begin their World Cup campaign on Friday with a clash against the United States at the Stadium of Light. This year's competition follows the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup and 2022 Women's European Championships, where England were crowned victors on home soil. The Lionesses have since enjoyed further success after defending their Euros title in Switzerland earlier this summer and Botterman is hoping a home World Cup can have a similar effect for women's rugby. The 26-year-old prop said: 'You look at what they did in the Euros, more recently, but their home European win as well and what that did for women's sport – not just women's football – but women's sport in general has just boomed since then. 'We obviously want to have a similar effect. If we can have an effect on women's sport in general, but for women's rugby – obviously being a less participated-in female sport – it would be unbelievable to see a boom in participation in that area. 'Just people witnessing the sport, enjoying it and wanting to play it. 'Home World Cup, moving it around the country so it's accessible to everyone is really important. 'Hopefully we can get to the final and reproduce what the football girls did.' England are one of the favourites going into the 2025 competition and are the top-ranked team in the world. They have already enjoyed success this year, having secured a seventh consecutive Six Nations title with a tight victory over France. However, the Red Roses' last World Cup triumph came at the 2014 edition and despite reaching both finals of the following two tournaments, they lost to New Zealand both times. After Friday's clash with the USA, they face Samoa and Australia in their remaining Pool A games before the knockout stages begin and lock Abbie Ward insists England are ready to embrace the pressure of a home tournament. 'I don't know a time when the Red Roses haven't been under pressure or perceived pressure,' she said. 'We've always had that 'you're ranked number one, you've had this many wins in a row, you've won however many Grand Slams'. 'I've also been part of two World Cups where we've gone in as favourites and we haven't won. 'So I think the day the Red Roses don't have that pressure, that will feel weird. We're used to it, I think we enjoy it, we thrive and have our best performances when we are under pressure. 'It's something I think we're used to, we can adapt to and can use in our favour. 'It's a home World Cup, so for us that's an advantage – that support and noise, having our friends and family there, more press there. That's an advantage. 'I think the girls will harness it and you can hopefully see it reflected in our on-pitch performances.'


RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Hannah Botterman hopes England can emulate Lionesses effect at Rugby World Cup
England prop Hannah Botterman is hoping a home Women's Rugby World Cup can have a "similar effect" to the success of the Lionesses. The Red Roses begin their World Cup campaign on Friday with a clash against the United States at the Stadium of Light (7.30pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player). This year's competition follows the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup and 2022 Women's European Championships, where England were crowned victors on home soil. The Lionesses have since enjoyed further success after defending their Euros title in Switzerland earlier this summer and Botterman is hoping a home World Cup can have a similar effect for women's rugby. The 26-year-old prop said: "You look at what they did in the Euros, more recently, but their home European win as well and what that did for women's sport – not just women's football – but women's sport in general has just boomed since then. "We obviously want to have a similar effect. If we can have an effect on women's sport in general, but for women's rugby – obviously being a less participated-in female sport – it would be unbelievable to see a boom in participation in that area. "Just people witnessing the sport, enjoying it and wanting to play it. "Home World Cup, moving it around the country so it's accessible to everyone is really important. "Hopefully we can get to the final and reproduce what the football girls did." England the favourites going into the 2025 competition and are the top-ranked team in the world. They have already enjoyed success this year, having secured a seventh consecutive Six Nations title with a tight victory over France. However, the Red Roses' last World Cup triumph came at the 2014 edition and despite reaching both finals of the following two tournaments, they lost to New Zealand both times. After Friday's clash with the USA, they face Samoa and Australia in their remaining Pool A games before the knockout stages begin and lock Abbie Ward (above) insists England are ready to embrace the pressure of a home tournament. "I don't know a time when the Red Roses haven't been under pressure or perceived pressure," she said. "We've always had that 'you're ranked number one, you've had this many wins in a row, you've won however many Grand Slams'. "I've also been part of two World Cups where we've gone in as favourites and we haven't won. "So I think the day the Red Roses don't have that pressure, that will feel weird. We're used to it, I think we enjoy it, we thrive and have our best performances when we are under pressure. "It's something I think we're used to, we can adapt to and can use in our favour. "It's a home World Cup, so for us that's an advantage – that support and noise, having our friends and family there, more press there. That's an advantage. "I think the girls will harness it and you can hopefully see it reflected in our on-pitch performances."


The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Hannah Botterman hopes England can emulate Lionesses effect at Rugby World Cup
England prop Hannah Botterman is hoping a home Women's Rugby World Cup can have a 'similar effect' to the success of the Lionesses. The Red Roses begin their World Cup campaign on Friday with a clash against the United States at the Stadium of Light. This year's competition follows the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup and 2022 Women's European Championships, where England were crowned victors on home soil. The Lionesses have since enjoyed further success after defending their Euros title in Switzerland earlier this summer and Botterman is hoping a home World Cup can have a similar effect for women's rugby. The 26-year-old prop said: 'You look at what they did in the Euros, more recently, but their home European win as well and what that did for women's sport – not just women's football – but women's sport in general has just boomed since then. 'We obviously want to have a similar effect. If we can have an effect on women's sport in general, but for women's rugby – obviously being a less participated-in female sport – it would be unbelievable to see a boom in participation in that area. 'Just people witnessing the sport, enjoying it and wanting to play it. 'Home World Cup, moving it around the country so it's accessible to everyone is really important. 'Hopefully we can get to the final and reproduce what the football girls did.' England are one of the favourites going into the 2025 competition and are the top-ranked team in the world. They have already enjoyed success this year, having secured a seventh consecutive Six Nations title with a tight victory over France. However, the Red Roses' last World Cup triumph came at the 2014 edition and despite reaching both finals of the following two tournaments, they lost to New Zealand both times. After Friday's clash with the USA, they face Samoa and Australia in their remaining Pool A games before the knockout stages begin and lock Abbie Ward insists England are ready to embrace the pressure of a home tournament. 'I don't know a time when the Red Roses haven't been under pressure or perceived pressure,' she said. 'We've always had that 'you're ranked number one, you've had this many wins in a row, you've won however many Grand Slams'. 'I've also been part of two World Cups where we've gone in as favourites and we haven't won. 'So I think the day the Red Roses don't have that pressure, that will feel weird. We're used to it, I think we enjoy it, we thrive and have our best performances when we are under pressure. 'It's something I think we're used to, we can adapt to and can use in our favour. 'It's a home World Cup, so for us that's an advantage – that support and noise, having our friends and family there, more press there. That's an advantage. 'I think the girls will harness it and you can hopefully see it reflected in our on-pitch performances.'