Mackenzie Carson Interview: ‘That drive to win a World Cup, and not just go to a World Cup, is what has motivated me’
Sidelined during the Six Nations, Carson’s World Cup dream has kept her rehab on track
©RFU Collection via Getty
Composed. Dominant. Fluent.
Last weekend’s emphatic 97-7 win over Spain was pretty much the perfect outcome as England continued their World Cup preparations.
With Helena Rowland marking her first Test start on the wing with a hat-trick of tries, the Red Roses looked authoritative and clinical as they work towards their tournament opener against the United States on August 22nd in Sunderland.
And waiting in the wings to play her part in what looks like an already fine-tuned England side is Gloucester-Hartpury prop Mackenzie Carson.
Born in Canada, the 27-year-old initially represented her native country - and played against England in 2018 - before switching allegiances to the Red Roses in 2023 under World Rugby’s international eligibility rules.
“I grew up in Canada and played in their pathway up until the age of 20,” Carson, who will be playing in her first World Cup, reflects.
“I first got capped against England actually up in Doncaster, so they [Canada] played a huge part in my growth as a player in my early days.
“I think the last World Cup was an interesting one for me as I spent it at home. There was some back and forth about me going into camps leading into the World Cup with Canada and for me, it just wasn’t the right time and it didn’t fit.
“I took some time away from that environment and pretty shortly after, there was a bit of a prop crisis and there you have it, I started playing for England!
“It’s been a crazy transition and if you’d have asked me three years ago if I’d be playing for England in the World Cup, I probably would have laughed as that just seemed like a crazy, outlandish thing to do!
“It’s been an interesting way to get here, I guess but it’s been incredible and being part of the Red Roses has been so special.”
Sidelined since March after picking up an ankle injury against Wales in the Six Nations, Carson has had to bide her time for another shot in an England shirt.
She won’t be involved in the Red Roses’ final warm-up match against France this Saturday, but the prospect of trying to win a World Cup has been a powerful motivator throughout her recovery.
“I’m at the tail end of my rehab”, Carson told TRU. “I got hurt during the Six Nations which was a bit of a bummer, but I’ve been rehabbing away. It’s a bit hard when you have to start pre-season a bit later than others, but I’m keeping my head down.
“Watching the Six Nations was tough. For the last three years, I’ve been a part of the squad for most of those fixtures so that was my first time watching from the outside although I did enjoy having my cowboy hat on [when England beat France 43-42 to seal a record-equalling seventh consecutive Six Nations title] at Allianz Stadium!
“I felt like a proper fan girl so that was good, but I much prefer playing rugby. That drive to win a World Cup, and not just go to a World Cup, is what motivates me. That drive to get back in that squad. Everyone wants to be a part of it and everyone wants to be there.
“I’m not a huge fan of the running and the gym stuff, but I love the rugby. That’s what I’m here for. Everything for me is about being the best possible player I can be, to get back on the pitch, to do my job for the girls and make winning a habit.”
Carson may not have played in just over four months, but her energy and presence around the squad is infectious.
“Off the pitch, I think I’m probably just a bit of a joker,” she confirms. “I probably actually distract some of the seriousness.
“I don’t like to take things too seriously. I like to keep people laughing, keep people smiling and provide entertainment. I think they feel like I’ve won a contest every time I walk in the room!
“Everyone is taking everything so seriously, and I’m sat at the back like the kid that is the naughty one who has been told not to do anything. I like to be a joker but take it seriously when I’m called upon.”
And that blend of characteristics which Carson brings to the table perhaps was mirrored in England’s recent training camp in Treviso, where hard work was balanced with moments of camaraderie and fun.
“It was great to travel a bit,” she adds.“Obviously with it being a home World Cup, we aren’t doing as much travelling this year as we probably normally would.
“It was great to be able to get away as a group and it felt like a little bit of a holiday, although I’m not sure the training would reflect that in the way that the girls were feeling in 30-degree heat!
“There was a lot of hard graft on the pitch and then we had some nice team moments off the pitch. We did a little prosecco tour to finish off and learnt about the culture. It was fantastic and we got to chat to different people. It was a great refresh for us.”
After more than two months in camp, a productive stint in Italy, and a commanding warm-up win over Spain, the serious business of trying to win a home World Cup is now coming into sharp focus.
John Mitchell’s side will face one final examination when they travel to France on Saturday, but the hunger to be part of something special with England is only growing.
“Being a part of a home World Cup in England to grow the game and the impact we could have on the community is just amazing,” Carson says. “I’m super happy to be a part of it and there are lots of people back home who are also cheering me on.”
As mentioned, the Red Roses’ final warm-up game before the World Cup comes against France this weekend, and boss Mitchell has made 11 changes to the side that thumped Spain.
World Player of the Year Ellie Kildunne returns to the starting XV for the first time since England’s Six Nations win over Scotland, while Zoe Harrison keeps her place at fly-half.
Abby Dow has been handed a start on the wing, with Hannah Botterman, Amy Cokayne, and Maud Muir forming the front row. Skipper Zoe Aldcroft returns to the back row at blindside flanker, alongside Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews.
Marlie Packer, who was red-carded for a dangerous clearout in the game against Spain, has been handed a one-match suspension. She will serve the ban this weekend, making her eligible for England’s World Cup opener.
Winger Claudia Moloney-MacDonald, playmaker Holly Aitchison and centre Emily Scarratt remain sidelined as they continue to recover from injuries.
The Red Roses’ game against France will be shown on BBC iPlayer and on the England Rugby YouTube channel.
England team vs France: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Cokayne, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft, Kabeya, Matthews.
Replacements: Atkin-Davies, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, L Packer, Rowland, Sing.
