Dan Cole, the former England prop, recently shared an amusing yet uncomfortable throwback from his rugby days, describing his stint playing in the women's rugby team as a second-rower as one of his most awkward life experiences. This revelation came during an episode of the podcast 'For The Love Of Rugby,' which he co-hosts with ex-teammate Ben Youngs.
The discussion took an unexpected turn when guest Maud Muir, a current England women's team prop, mentioned her own brief experience playing out of position. Cole chimed in with his story, recalling a youth tour in Holland with his U16 team from South Leicester. "We had a massive group, about 35 of us, and the team we were supposed to play didn't show up," Cole explained. A Belgian women's team was in need of opponents, leading to an unusual mix-up match where Cole ended up playing second row. "It’s allowed, it’s on the continent, it’s liberal," he quipped, recalling how he was the first player chosen by the women's team.
"I played in their team, but I got put in the second row and A, my head got crushed and B, the bind situation as a 15, 16-year-old kid, that was awkward."
Muir, shocked by the scenario, questioned the legality of the arrangement, to which Cole humorously confirmed its permissibility overseas. He further shared the physical discomforts of the position, sympathizing with Muir's similar experiences, "My head got crushed. Yeah, second row is an awkward place to play."
Beyond the field, Cole also reminisced about the grueling preparations for the notorious pre-season bronco run. "You have to train for a bronco; I always had to train," he stated, recounting solo training sessions in extreme heat, including one memorable instance where his phone nearly melted from the temperature.
Now retired, Cole looks back on these moments with a mix of nostalgia and relief, especially enjoying his summers without the dread of pre-season conditioning. His stories not only highlight the physical demands of rugby but also the unexpected, often humorous situations players find themselves in throughout their careers.