Irwin Mitchell

Alex Mitchell: My earliest rugby moment I remember would be when I was about six at my local club, Lyme near Manchester. Mum took me down, and there were only seven or eight of us. I loved it from the start. My older brothers both played and I was just waiting to go out there and give it a go. When I was younger the influence of my brothers James and Jordan was massive. They were already at the club and it made me want to go and play. James played England Under 16s and Under 18s and I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. He has always been fantastic with me – going down to the park and playing random games. It made us better players.

As Irwin Mitchell, the official legal partner of England Rugby, understands, rugby offers up painful moments as well as glorious ones. Alex Mitchell, who has made it into Steve Borthwick's final squad for France, and Joe Cokanasiga and Sam Underhill – who narrowly missed out – talk about events that have defined their lives and careers, showing them that the moments that matter are not only the ones that happen on the pitch. By Mark Souster

‘It isn’t always about who won or lost – but who was there, sharing the moment’

AM: If I could speak to my 12-year-old self, I would just say: “Enjoy it.” For me growing up I loved playing rugby and you obviously work harder at the things you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy something you are not going to work as hard or put the hours in. What I do is the best job in the world. You’re getting paid for playing your hobby with your mates! SU: Yes, I agree. Enjoy the environment you’re in, the people that you play with and what you’re doing at the time. That’s the key to longevity and success. JC: I would go along with that – and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Keep working on your super-strengths. A lot of people say work on your weaknesses, but I think your strengths make you the player you are, or will become.

AM: It has to be my England debut. I got lucky. It was just after Covid, at Twickenham and in front of 82,000 people. All the family came, I think I used up all my ticket allocation! My mum, my dad and my brothers seeing me was a great moment. Seeing how emotional they were made me emotional. It was an awesome experience. SU: For me it has to be 2019 in Japan, the semi-final against New Zealand, the sense of the occasion, the size of what we had done and accomplished and having the opportunity to do something special. Having family out there as well. That was the highlight of my career – so far. JC: I have to agree with Sam; going to Japan in 2019. Playing my first game there would be my career highlight. It was an unreal experience. Only my mum was able to come out. She’s my biggest supporter. My brother and sister say I’m her favourite child! Playing the first game there, knowing she was watching and how much it meant to her, was awesome. Seeing loads of England fans so happy when we made it to the final was pretty special too.

I have two notebooks. One is a mind journal and one just for rugby stuff. I got taught that writing things down helps a lot. And it does

AM: Coaching with Saints and the younger crowd. I love coaching and when kids and parents come up to you after sessions and compliment you and say my kid’s got a lot better at this, when people remember you, it’s pretty rewarding. JC: For me it has been my sister having my first niece. I am a big family guy and seeing her having a little child she’s always wanted is a lovely thing. I get told off a lot because I spoil her. I bought her a Bath kit and some England kit too. My brother gets her Leicester kit. We are fighting to be the best uncle! SU: For me, without doubt it was getting married in June to Josie. We’d been going out for a long time. There were a lot of friends from the sport there. The occasion was incredible and the sense of commitment made it so special. It puts sport into perspective a bit.

AM: When I was 18 I moved from Manchester to Northampton. I had to leave my family and all my mates behind and move to a new place. That was a challenge to start with, but it was easy to settle in after a short while. SU: Yes I agree about settling into new environments. Moving clubs means moving house essentially and having done it a few times now, having to find your feet in a new place is not always easy. Fortunately, it’s a very sociable sport and you make friends pretty quickly by dint of what you’re doing. JC: For me it has to be Mum getting diagnosed with a brain tumour and Dad being sent away [from Britain] because of immigration and visa problems even though he had served in the army for 16 years. It taught us that there are bigger things than rugby. As a family we got through it by sticking together and saying, ‘It is what it is.’ I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason.

All information from England Rugby and correct as of 18 Aug 2023

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Telegraph Media Group Designer: Jonathan Clayton-Jones, Picture Editor: Cat Costelloe, Commissioning Editor: Jim Bruce-Ball, Words: Mark Souster, Sub Editor: Tim Cumming, Project Manager: Tom Gadd, Web Editor: Ross Thomas, Photography: Jude Edginton, Getty, Shutterstock

Alex Mitchell Age 26 Club Northampton Position Scrum-half Height 180cm Weight 81kg Caps 5

Sam Underhill Age 27 Club Bath Position Back row Height 186cm Weight 103kg Caps 29

AM: Probably the injuries. I have had two serious knee injuries, ACL and meniscus which took me out for nine months. In rugby, they are the big challenge you have got to get past. Get through them and you get to a better place. I got through them with a bit of perspective; you’re still in the game you love, getting paid, still around your mates. Regardless of the injuries there are a lot more places that you wouldn’t want to be.

And your most challenging moment in rugby?

What has been your most rewarding moment off the field?

JC: Yep, no surprises here either: injuries! Getting back from them and trying to replicate how you were before. I’ve had many injuries but it’s about the rehabilitation. I’ve dealt with them using several methods, and speaking with my sports psychologist helps. She always says, don’t rush things. Focus on little things and why you play rugby. I have two notebooks. One is a mind journal and one just for rugby stuff. I got taught that writing things down helps a lot. And it does, it helps get stuff out. SU: Same here. Injuries, which obviously is a professional hazard. Whenever you have setbacks, being part of a team environment can be really helpful. Coming into camp for me has been huge off the back of injuries. The ability to remind yourself that it is a blip or an anomaly or a bad time – rather than the norm – is quite important. You can get that sense of perspective either from teammates or reminiscing with coaches and family. Recognise it is just a moment in time and not a state of being.

My England debut has been my best moment – seeing how emotional my family was made me emotional

Q. What was your first memorable rugby moment?

What has been your best rugby moment so far?

What advice would you give a 12-year-old version of yourself?

A lot of people say work on your weaknesses but I think your strengths make you the player you are or will become

So, what are your individual super strengths?

AM: Mine has to be bringing tempo to the game, being a threat around the breakdown and trying to get the team attacking. The more I can work on that the better my chance of selection in the future. Scrum halves have got to be loud, confident and you’ve got to back yourself. You are the heartbeat of the team a lot of the time; trying to get the forwards going and give tempo to the backs. SU: Most players now are good at most things but defence is probably mine. Physicality is so important in the game. JC: Ball carrying, I would say for me. I am quite an explosive winger so that’s something I like to work on. I try to get my hands on the ball as much as I can.

Hazard of the job: All three players agree that injuries provide the most challenging moments in the game

Tempo: Alex Mitchell knows it is the scrum-half’s job to keep things moving on the pitch to create moments that matter

Mum getting diagnosed with a brain tumour taught us there are bigger things than rugby

AM: Literally just by being there. Dad comes to every game, wherever it is, Newcastle, Exeter or abroad. He once drove to Poland for an England U-18 game. He loves it and is always there and it’s nice to know he is watching. I speak to my parents the whole time. Also getting some perspective from my brothers – James who plays rugby and Jordan who doesn’t. It’s nice to get a bit of a balance of opinions. It’s good to get their different views. JC: My family helps me just when I see them in the stands. Whether we lose or win they’re backing me. Family is probably my big inspiration. I like to play for them. Growing up together we were always quite tight. My brother being in rugby helps with the shared bond. It’s nice to share different ideas and how people see the game. Having a good support network is really important. It makes you realise you’re not alone. SU: A lot of stuff you remember about games isn’t necessarily about the rugby or the match; not who won or lost, but who was there. My wife has been a big influence, closely followed by my parents and family, who are all fairly sporty. They are always keen to be up to date with what is going on. And just having those people there. The family flew out to Japan in 2019 and we were all together to share the experience.

And your most challenging moment off the field?

How have those closest to you supported you on and off the field in moments that matter to you?

What do you like to do away from rugby, and what moments do you look forward to in the future?

AM: Ben Youngs. I’ve been in and around the England squad for a couple of years now and he has been awesome. I asked him questions about kicking, passing, things I can work on. He has been more of a mentor. SU: The person who has probably been there the most in a mentor type of role was Richard Hill, the former England and now team manager. Hilly and I had a sort of mentorship when I was coming through at the schoolboy stage. We have kept in touch a lot. JC: For me it is probably my performance psychologist Katie Mobed. I am doing a lot more mindfulness to discover my “Why?” She also says pressure is always a privilege. Looking back on my career I wish I had understood that a lot more, so I could deal with it.

AM: It is huge. Obviously on the field knowing that your inside and outside man are there for you, especially when you’re in a bit of a hole on the field, it’s nice to know your mates are there to back you up. Off the field, if you trust them, you have friendships. SU: Yes, it’s really important. Ultimately you are only going to be successful in a team environment if you trust your teammates. If you don’t, you’re not going to give the best version of yourself. JC: Trust is probably the most important thing in a team. If you don’t trust each other you won’t work hard for each other, which is what England is big on.

How important is it to have people you trust around you?

Who do you feel most indebted to in rugby?

JOE COKANASIGA Joe Rokocoko, who was born in Fiji but played for the All Blacks. He was just an amazing winger with his speed and try-scoring ability.

And who is a player you admire in your position?

AM: I really want to get down to a single figures handicap in golf. That would be a moment! And I’d love to climb Everest or the Three Peaks. I love getting outside. JC: I like to go back to Fiji and watch kids play rugby. It’s awe-inspiring. Rugby is in their DNA. I went back to Fiji in 2019 and I watched the young kids spin passing with plastic water bottles. And some of the offloads were incredible! That was a moment that mattered for me. SU: Two years ago I converted my old Land Rover Defender into a mobile coffee shop with Ben Spencer, my scrum-half mate at Bath. We called it Grass and Roots and sold flat whites at the Rec which has been great.

Celebration time: Joe Cokanasinga enjoys touching down at Twickenham against Argentina in 2022

Covering for each other: Alex Mitchell, pictured kicking against Italy in the 2023 Six Nations, says looking out for team-mates is key

Who do you feel most indebted to in rugby?

SAM UNDERHILL Justin Tipuric – to my mind he is one of the best sevens there has been. I was with the Ospreys for two years when I started out and to be around guys like that in training all the time was such a good experience.

ALEX MITCHELL Antoine Dupont has to be up there. I played against him in the Six Nations and he was just unbelievable, in running the show. He is an awesome player. I also admire Cobus Reinach, who was at Northampton Saints.

Guiding light: Richard Hill, pictured hosting guests at an England training session in 2022, has been Sam Underhill’s mentor

Spirit of the game: Joe Cokanasinga likes to head to Fiji to see kids playing rugby

PLAYER Stats

Joe Cokanasiga Age 25 Club Bath Position Wing Height 192cm Weight 112kg Caps 14

Family is my big inspiration. I like to play for them

You are only going to be successful in a team environment if you trust your teammates

The person who has been there the most in a mentor type of role was Richard Hill

I like to go back to Fiji and watch kids play rugby

Pride in the jersey: Sam Underhill, in action against Australia last autumn

Loving every minute: Sam Underhill, giving his all at an England training camp earlier this summer, says enjoyment is key

Bath time: Joe Cokanasinga bought a replica kit for his baby niece to celebrate a rewarding moment that mattered off the pitch

In video: our three players on their moments that matter

Joe Cokanasiga: It has to be playing with Dad who was in the Army stationed in Brunei. I was a bit young but big enough to play with him. We ended up playing together in the centres for the Army Veterans! Brunei is where my love for rugby comes from, surprisingly. It was a great experience. I was 15 and playing with adults. Dad would do all the hard work and I would pick stuff up around him. I was a little bit late to the game but coming from Fiji I think it is something you are born with.

Sam Underhill: My first significant rugby moment was the first time I played in my school in Gloucester during PE. We got split up and not playing wasn’t an option. I remember it being pretty frantic and chaotic – but good. At that time I was a bit scrawny. I didn’t start growing really until I was 14 or 15. I soon learned rugby is a good tool for understanding yourself. As a young man, you are not often taught about emotional expressions and sport can be helpful as you learn to work with people, you learn to read people and you learn to read yourself and regulate yourself and express energy in a controlled environment. That is the universal appeal of sport – and contact sports especially – because you learn a range of skills and a lot of self-discipline.

My England debut has been my best moment – seeing how emotional my family was made me emotional