Working the farm with hay bales for a squat rack – Loughborough’s Emily Scarratt trains at home

Loughborough Lightning and England centre Emily Scarratt has gone back to basics during lockdown with a little help from her family farm.

Emily Scarratt

Image: stillsport.com

Speaking to Loughborough University as part of its #TrainatHome campaign, Scarratt explained how she’s built a gym out of the materials she had to hand, including two large hay bales:

“I’m pretty lucky that my family farm is ten minutes away and I’ve been able to build a gym there. I’ve got two big round bales as my squat racks, two stacks of pallets with a barbell across the top as a pull-up bar and some tyres – all the classic farm stuff.

“It’s quite ‘spit and sawdust’ and it’s not the most glamorous of gyms but it’s definitely serving a purpose.”

Emily Scarratt on the farm

Scarratt, who was named World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year 2019, has also spent her time lending a helping hand to the farm’s daily upkeep:

“I’ve been working on the farm a little bit as it’s providing an important service at the moment. My days are definitely a bit different now but to feel like you’re being useful is quite nice.”

Emily also talked about how the Lightning squad has come together during lockdown, ensuring everyone has stayed in touch and team morale has remained upbeat.

“As a squad, we’re got loads of things going on – quizzes, workouts, challenges. Within this we’ve got mini teams set up with the squad, helping keep motivation high and keeping communications regular.”

Loughborough University’s #TrainatHome campaign looks at how its elite level athletes are adapting their training schedules during the coronavirus outbreak. With new content and interviews released every few days, athlete videos can be downloaded in full by visiting HERE.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 72/20

Loughborough University is equipped with a live in-house broadcast unit via the Globelynx network. To arrange an interview with one of our experts please contact the press office on 01509 223491. Bookings can be made online via www.globelynx.com

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It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2019 QS World University Rankings, University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2019 and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.

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