As many England Rugby fans know, following a national team is full of joy and pain – from the heights of tournament success and heroic performance, to the steely determination in recovering from injury and tough defeat. Fans experience a range of emotions on a parallel with the England Rugby team and, in many ways, see this as paying the psychological price of loyalty.
Sports psychology itself is emerging as a profession of note, with a pivotal role in both individual and team success, with terms such as ‘Emotional Intelligence’, ‘Marginal Gains’ and ‘Growth Mindset’ entering the public consciousness when discussing major tournaments.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup has brought this to the fore, as Gareth Southgate’s approach to nurturing the England football team has been widely applauded – achieved through a combination of excellent leadership skills, humility and the all-important resources of the FA, which backed him when the England football team’s reputation was at its lowest. The England coach also found inspiration beyond the football field, having spent time with England Rugby’s Eddie Jones long before this year’s World Cup.
Showing support for England Rugby – following the team, attending matches, being involved in the Rugby community – requires a belief in the spirit of the game as well the ability of the team (both on and off the pitch) As a rugby-obsessed fan once said:
“The shortest word for me is I, the sweetest word for me is LOVE, but the only word for me is Rugby”
Pride in the England team is at the heart of the Rugby Ball Light, but it’s also about learning, improvement and starting afresh. We’ll shortly be releasing a new, updated version of the Rugby Ball Light – so watch this space!
If you’d like to apply for the new batch of Rugby Ball Lights when they are released, please contact us at info@rugbyballlight.co.uk and we’ll add you to the waiting list. Thank you.