Jordan Russell Exclusive: "Before my move to Leicester, I’d lost the love for rugby"
Jordan Russell has recaptured her love for rugby at Leicester
©Leicester Tigers Women/1880Photography/Phil Peters
Jordan Russell had not long since left Gloucester-Hartpury before she was on her way back to ‘Queensholm’.
Last month, on the opening day of the Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign, the 22-year-old returned to the West Country with her new club Leicester Tigers to take on the reigning champions.
Moving to Leicester, indeed, marked a fresh start for the back-rower and even though she did come up against some old friends in Round One, Russell is now focused on the next chapter of her career.
“Gloucester-Hartpury wasn't that successful for me” she begins. “All last season, I was playing in Championship 1 [on loan at Cheltenham Tigers].
“I was having a good time in Champ 1. I had to try and get other opportunities from elsewhere.
“I then went on the Sevens circuit and played 10s in Hong Kong for Shogun. I did that off my own back as Gloucester-Hartpury wasn't very successful for me. I was grateful for some minutes but disappointed I didn't get to play more.”
Last term, Russell only featured for Gloucester-Hartpury in the Allianz Cup so when she was first approached by Leicester Tigers head coach Tom Hudson, she felt like her rugby journey was at a crossroads.
“When he found me, I really didn't want to play,” she tells TRU. “I was so unfit as well. I’d lost the love for it.
“Signing for Tigers was make or break, to be honest with you. I needed a change. I put my cards on the table. I said you either make me love it here and make me want to play rugby again or I'm finished.
“I knew I was good enough but my confidence was low after last year at Gloucester. All he promised me was that he'd give me an opportunity. I'd only met him a few times.
“I got offered my teacher training so I said yes to the contract. I think it was the belief that he had in me from day one. That was what I was missing.”
And Hudson has shown faith in the talented forward with Russell starting all three of Leicester’s PWR games this season.
But her time within the Gloucester-Hartpury set-up wasn’t all frustrating for Russell.
A graduate of Hartpury University, she was integral to the side’s dominance in the BUCS Women’s National League (now Women’s BUCS Super Rugby) highlighted by her outstanding Player of the Match performance in the 2022 championship final.
“I came to Hartpury from Loughborough College, completely new to it all,” she adds.
“I was playing rugby for two years but not at a high level. I trained mostly for the first year as it was during Covid but in my second year, that was when the BUCS side started to dominate completely.
“I had such a good experience with that. I loved playing week in, week out. The shirt back then was competitive. If I didn't bring my ‘A’ game, I wouldn't get to play so I think that played into my side of competitiveness. It was like that all the way through my university playing career. I had a great experience at university.”
Russell shared that experience with the likes of PWR stars Pip Hendy, Emma Sing and Sophie Bridger and will never forget the success they achieved together in the student game.
“The final was amazing,” she continues. “It was at Sixways and it was the first game my Mum and Dad ever came to watch.
“We played against Edinburgh and it was a title decider. I just played well and enjoyed playing that game because I didn’t feel the pressure and wanted to play the best rugby we could.
“The year after, they knew we were defending champions. It was like a target on our back. We played with almost no pressure [and won the title again after beating Exeter University in the final] which is kind of what I love about my rugby anyway because I don’t have any pressure.”
And the environment which has been created at Leicester filters into Russell’s mindset as a player.
Despite the Tigers losing their first three PWR games, behind the scenes, Russell knows the club - who are competing in the top-flight for just the second season - are taking steps in the right direction.
“I like how we're a new team in the Prem but if you're here at Tigers, it's because you want to be here,” she adds.
“There is that renewed sense of ‘want’ that's shared between the girls. The girls that train throughout the year want to be here. We all want the same outcome. We speak about the family feel. That's been nurtured by Huddo (Tom Hudson).
“I wouldn't say it was disappointing where we finished in the table last year considering it was our maiden voyage. The only way is up.”
Under the guidance of Hudson - who became head coach in the summer - the side will be eager to improve their fortunes when they host Ealing Trailfinders Women on Sunday at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
And Russell will agree with this notion as she looks to build on the positive energy she has already experienced during her short time at the club.
“He [Hudson] has come in with a fist of iron and laid down the law,” she says. “If you want to be here and on this journey, you have to work hard and if you don't work hard, you won't be here. It's nice because that's just how it goes.
“He also is very supportive and you're never made to feel like you're not enough.
“Running out at Mattioli Woods Welford Road for the first time, everyone wanted to be there for you. It was something I'd never experienced before.”
