The Vicar of Rugby
Television and radio presenter - and the one in the dog collar on Gogglebox - Kate Bottley, recently returned to her roots at training with East Retford rugby club in Nottinghamshire.
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She discovered rugby at what is now Leeds Trinity University in 1993. “My brother played rugby and cricket, but we were never offered it at school. I do like belonging, being part of a team and at the freshers’ fair, I met the rugby girls and discovered that in rugby there’s a place for everybody. They lined us up in height order, I’m 5ft, and they pointed to me and said, ‘Do you want to play hooker?’ I said I’d give it a go though I had no idea what a hooker did!”
After leaving university, Kate was teaching in a secondary school and did some rugby coaching with the Year 7s and 8s. She married the local vicar’s son Graham, her partner on Gogglebox and when the first of their two children was born in 2000, she left the game. That was until, as now a part-time “supply vicar” in Retford, she saw a social media invite to train with East Reford’s women.
Until recently, she was more likely to be seen on Richard Osman’s House of Games than playing in a rugby game in the front row. She has her own BBC 2 Radio show and hosts the BBC’s Songs of Praise as well as being on The Wheel. A competitive cleric, she’s featured on Celebrity Mastermind, Celebrity MasterChef and Would I Lie to You? but the rainswept rugby pitch was calling. “The mud of the rugby pitch is like glue,” she laughs.
Quite an emotional moment
“I thought I really fancy getting my boots on again, although they were falling to bits, and I swear my shorts had shrunk. I went along to a training session in the shirt I first played in with the number 2 on the back and it was quite an emotional moment,” she said.
“They were so welcoming and Carrie, who runs the women’s rugby, shouted ‘Hi, Rev’ and I realised she works in the funeral industry at one of the crematoriums. But on the pitch, you’re not that, it’s a great equaliser, just a joy. I dragged along my triathlete friend Lucy who then got player of the match in the following game. Now I’m working on two friends who do weight training. I’m a rugby evangelist!
“My rugby girls from 30 years ago are still my friends. When my mum died in January there was a whole row of rugby girls there. They are the ones I would phone on good days or bad days. I wanted to do some exercise but often I’m the shortest person in the room at something like a step class. Rugby is such an inclusive sport even when you are 48 and peri-menopausal it’s a safe place to exercise.
“We talk a lot about body positivity, but rugby was doing that first. Lots of things have changed while I’ve been away from rugby, I’m slower around the pitch but I could still down a pint in six seconds if I tried hard enough!”
A wild swimmer, Kate was taking a night off rugby training to swim in a lake in Doncaster in the middle of the night, saying “There’s a fine line between madness and adventure!”
Chasing happiness
“I want to train, and to encourage other women to come along but as for being in a game? I’ve got bras older than some players! I was never that good and it was always about throwing a ball around, making friends and having fun.
“In my ministry I see a lot of people at the end of their lives and people talk a lot of sense and often about things like rugby where they found happiness. It’s important to keep chasing your happiness.”
With a new book published ‘Have A Little Faith: Life Lessons on Love, Death and How Lasagne Always Helps’ Kate is still chasing happiness at East Retford rugby club.
“It’s a scrappy, typical grassroots club with the best bonfire in town and it has the most generous welcome. At a recent development day, they were hosting five local women’s teams and I was making a noise on the sideline. It took me right back to the adventures, going on tour, all those memories still alive.”
Blessed to have Kate
Carrie Dean says: “Rugby is the family you never knew you needed and at East Retford RUFC have been blessed having the Rev turn up at our humble little community club, helping to grow our family. She brings a wealth of experience in the game and a bubbly personality which is second to none. We’re hoping that the Rev has found her new home here with us and will continue to support us for all our up-and-coming events. Keep your eyes peeled for an Inner Warrior camp in January 2024!"
“I started playing rugby at quite a young age and used it as my stress relief growing up. It helped me through some really rough times. My rugby family were always at my side, picking me up, dusting me off and pushing me to be the best version of me I could be. After knowing how much rugby helped me and being asked repeatedly to set up a women’s and girls’ section of the club, I did my coaching qualification and this year I’ve started my reffing qualification so I can give our women and girls the support I had.
“Women’s and girls’ training only started up again in the last six months after a fair few years without, but we’ve gone from strength to strength, making it a warm and welcoming place for anyone who wants to join, whether they’ve never touched a ball or they’re a world-class player looking for a bit of extra fitness or just want to meet some new people. We’ve got a real variety of people training with us now: from farmers to funeral directors, gymnasts to school workers, yoga and pilates instructors, to nurses and prison officers. The only thing we’ve got in common is we’re all just a little bit crazy, personally I like to think it’s just the right amount of crazy! My fellow coach Kurt and I have been running after school clubs in local schools which has brought a lot of new male and female juniors to the club and their mums came too! And the junior section has been out promoting women’s, girls’ and junior rugby in Retford.”
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