England’s Try-scoring Tighthead
Sarah Bern, one of the world’s best tight-head props, is a strong and skillful scrummager with an added box of tricks that includes speed, running with the ball, side-stepping the opposition and scoring tries.
Joining London Irish aged 11, she was the only girl on the team, but sport was always a passion growing up: netball, basketball, football, hockey, cricket, athletics, to which she added skiing, paddle boarding and rock climbing.
As she struggled with dyslexia and dyspraxia in school, she put in extra hours to succeed and took that work ethic into her sport, running to the gym, then on to school and training in the evening.
“I realised nothing was going to come easy. I was really driven growing up, that's something I've always had,” says the 27-year-old. "There was nothing that was going to get in the way of me playing rugby.
“I’ve never done anything half-hearted; it’s all or nothing,” she says and takes pride in being “fit, healthy and strong” hoping to inspire young girls playing rugby to see their strength as a huge positive.
Balancing perceptions of the ideal female body shape and a professional rugby career can still be a challenge she says.
“Even in 2024 there are still massive hurdles,” she told the England Rugby Podcast: O2 Inside Line. “There is definitely work still to be done.”
She talked about winning player of the tournament when playing sevens, a version of the sport she loved. When picked for the award she was told by someone that they never expected her to be good at sevens.
“It was power and speed that I thrived on, but that’s the bias set by society,” she told the podcast. Even if you are the best in the world in your role, she believes, women athletes like those playing in the front row are not seen in the same positive light as their male counterparts.
Secondary school was when she realised she was different, “and difference can be seen as a negative because women are pressured to be a certain shape and a certain size.”
Over her rugby career, however, “my size, strength and power became a real super strength and I came to love being bigger.”
Nothing pleases her more than getting the better of an opposition scrum but, having played in the back row and then centre, before earning seven England U20 caps at blind-side flanker, now she loves playing tighthead.
Her senior call-up came in 2016 against France and the USA at 20, and she was the youngest Red Rose in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, scoring a try against France that saw England through into the final and earning her player of the match.
She says: “I’ve always loved running and I’m pretty fast.” Her ability to step like a back can cause consternation for opposition defenders.
Now with 62 caps she still gets nervous every time she pulls on an England shirt.
“But that’s something nobody can take away from you, wearing that shirt, it’s your moment.”
It is particularly precious after a knee injury ruled Sarah out for a year. Throughout that time, and back in camp, she’s had great support from her partner and fellow Red Rose, Mackenzie Carson. They have been together a while, having been friends since Mackenzie came over from Canada on trial at Bristol Bears. They work on their goals together, which is tremendously positive until it gets complicated.
Sarah’s return for Bristol after six months out with injury was starting in the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby Final and saw her scrumming down opposite Mackenzie, who props for Gloucester-Hartpury. The title went to Mackenzie’s team after a second half comeback having trailed at half-time.
“We both want each other to play well but when it’s a head-to-head it doesn’t usually mean head butting each other in the scrum,” she told England Rugby Podcast.
She wants the best for young people and to inspire them to dream big.
“I want youngsters – no matter their age, sex or gender – who feel a little bit different to others to know that being different is a super power. If you don’t quite fit in, don’t let it ruin your dreams. It’s important to find what you love, because there is something for everyone.”
Her ideal is a world where youngsters like her nephew Finlay are supported and understood. He has autism and ADHD and is “just the most amazing little boy. He’s brilliant and he loves me, but it’s tough because his challenges are not visible, and I feel for him because he’s going to grow up in a world where he doesn’t feel like he fits.
“When he feels safe he’s the best version of himself and I want us to make the world better for kids like him and his little brother George who is going through similar things. It’s tough for my sister but she puts her best foot forward; they made it out, they try again, this is a new day. That’s what I find inspiring.”
That’s why Sarah has teamed up with the Wooden Spoon charity to create sensory rooms, including one at Allianz Stadium. Finlay knows the names of all the Red Roses and loves to shout to them. They will be hoping that Finlay and anyone with sensory issues is enjoying games at the stadium in that safe space.
