Bio

Name: Laura Keates

Lightning number: #122

DOB: 1988-08-05

Place of Birth: Awali, Bahrain

Position(s): Tighthead prop

Former Clubs: Worcester

Representative Rugby: England U19s, U20s, As and senior, West Midlands regional

Which rugby player do you first remember being inspired by?  Jonny Wilkinson

Who has been the single most important person in your rugby career so far and why?  My dad, I used to watch rugby with him when I was younger, and then ever since I’ve had the opportunity to play he’s been my biggest supporter, even leaving Hereford to pick me up once a week to drive me from Bristol to Worcester and back for training, before then going back home himself

What has been your biggest rugby achievement to date? Winning the World Cup in 2014

What does rugby mean to you? It’s meant literally everything to me for so long and has always been a massive part of my life, more recently it’s been a balance of resilience, stubborness and enjoyment

What do you typically eat on a matchday? Breakfast: egg, beans, avocado on toast, lunch: some sort of wrap! Snack - Squares bar, pre-warm up  snack: smoothie with banana, milk, chocolate protein and peanut butter

Which songs appear on your matchday playlist? Believer by Imagine Dragons

Do you have any pre-match superstitions and (if so) what are they? No, I try to stay actively away from superstitions as I don’t want something to change one day and it throw me out of sync

What is your favourite coffee spot? Any independent coffee place that sells good cakes/treats!