New parents often spend the first few months of their child’s life struggling through a fog of feeding routines, changing nappies and no sleep. But husband and wife, Daniel Ampaw and Eleanore Richardson, have faced an additional challenge since their son Caleb was born in February.
Both are preparing to represent Great Britain at the Tag Rugby World Cup in Sydney this October and, on top of their parental duties, follow a gruelling training regime to ensure they are fit and ready to compete.
Tag rugby is a low-contact version of the sport based on the rules of rugby league that nevertheless requires a great deal of strength and stamina. Because there is less chance of being injured than with traditional rugby, the sport has been growing in popularity in the UK in recent years.
On top of everything else, the pair – who live in Hither Green – hold down full-time jobs. Daniel, aged 37, works for a sports charity and also as a consultant, while Eleanore, aged 36, is a trichologist.
Astonishingly, Eleanore continued to play tag rugby until she was four months pregnant – much to the alarm of her mum and sister – and also returned to training around three months after giving birth.
“A lot of friends and family thought it was too soon, but I made sure I had been signed off by a specialist female health physio,” she explains. “Training has always been at my own pace and my coaches work with me to ensure I never push beyond my capabilities.
“What I wasn’t prepared for was the amount of juggling that training session required – balancing nappy changes, breastfeeding and baby naps around high-intensity training drills, matches and classroom work, but it gave me a better idea of what was to come.”
She has also found that the concentrated focus of training sessions has given her a sense of peace that she has also been able to bring to spending time with Caleb. This, she says, makes her feel more confident as a new mum.
Daniel and Eleanore have been helped on their sporting journey by GLL’s Sport Foundation (GSF) in Lewisham. The Foundation is the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme, offering financial and ‘in kind’ support to sportspeople of all ages and disciplines. Previous recipients include Tom Daley, Alex Yee and Ellie Simmonds.
“Support from the GSF has been a great benefit,” Daniel explains. “It enables us to train for free at any ‘Better’ gym which helps us to maintain our performance. Even when I’ve been in a different part of the country, I know there’s somewhere I can go to work out. I’ve also been able to take part in racquet sports at ‘Better’ centres and Eleanore has also been to exercise classes.”
The couple has set up a ‘Go Fund Me’ page to help with the long-haul air fares and to pay for childcare for little Caleb who will be joining his mum and dad on their adventure ‘Down Under’. To contribute, visit – https://www.gofundme.com/f/get-a-gb-tag-rugby-mum-and-dad-to-the-tag-world-cup?attribution_id=sl%3A42b41855-b98c-4a4f-885f-3d8194b23a53&lang=en_GB&ts=1785517437&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=off&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=whatsapp&cp_src=d
“I have always felt this huge pride to represent my country in a sport I really enjoy,” Eleanore concludes. “This year, being able to do that at the World Cup and also set an example for my son that you can love your child and also continue to focus on your own personal aspirations, is really important to me. I don’t want him to think he was the end of my tag rugby career!”
Matthew Houghton, GLL’s Community Sport Manager in Lewisham, comments, “We are delighted to support Daniel and Eleanore on their sporting journeys. I am in awe of their talent and dedication and their ability to juggle family life and training. We wish them every success in Australia later in the year.”
