Leeds Rhinos star explains inspirational dual role ahead of Challenge Cup final

If you think you’re busy, take a quick look at Amy Hardcastle’s weekly schedule and you’ll see what the word means!

Through his many roles off the pitch, the Leeds Rhinos star supports hundreds of youngsters in West Yorkshire, and when he steps out at Wembley on Saturday, he will have the support of every one.

Hardcastle, 35, will take to the national stadium wearing the colors of the Rhinos for the second year in a row, having been involved in last year’s historic Women’s Challenge Cup final, the first ever held under the famous arch. .

Last year’s opponents were former club St Helens, and that will be the same nine months later, with a different result to lose 22-8 in August 2023.

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‘Wembley week’ looks different this time around for Hardcastle, who has taken time out from every role she holds – apart from motherhood.

Talking to LoveRugby League at the pre-final media day on Monday, the 26-time England international explained: “I’ve decided to put everything aside this week.

“It’s been a hectic few months for me and this is a big occasion, it’s one of the biggest things you can do in your rugby career.

“Reflecting on the big games I’ve had myself, I weighed what I could do to prepare as well as I could, so work took a back seat this week.

“I’m just going to hit the gym, recover well, eat well and repeat that until we go up to Headingley on Friday morning.”

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Hardcastle details the round-the-clock schedule

Center Hardcastle made her England debut in 2009 and is one of the champion stories of the women’s game who has played a leading role in its drastic progression.

Juggling rugby league and motherhood with a teenage daughter is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the former Bradford Bulls ace’s schedule, which holds down numerous other roles he would describe as “day jobs” much, much too much. given how inspired they all are.

The Halifax native elaborated: “I’m currently doing my level four counseling because I want to be a youth counselor.

“I’m working two days for a charity called Invictus Wellbeing, which is based in Halifax, offering wellbeing and counseling to young people.

“It is one-to-one work with referrals to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), helping people dealing with mental health issues, suicidal ideation, self-harm.

“I do that twice a week, then I do two days a week with the Halifax Panthers Foundation for Women and Girls.

“I go into the schools, do rugby training for them and then I’m also the head coach for the women’s side as well as the start of this year.

“Then I’m a mother too!”

Breaking up his more than hectic weekly schedule, Hardcastle continued: “Monday is a day of well-being, I work all day in a school on Tuesday and then I’m off from there to get to Headingley for training.

“On Wednesdays, I’m at university all day and then I’m with the Panthers, but I do a collegiate group on a Wednesday so I go to Brighouse High School for training, then my collegiate group and then train again at night.

“Thursday is a recovery day for me before I go to training in the evening and then Friday is my wellness again.

“Then there’s a game (for Leeds) on a weekend, but because Halifax are also playing, they might play on Saturday or Sunday depending on the schedule.”

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“You can really make a difference to a young person and that’s what I strive to do”

Virtually every aspect of Hardcastle’s life, both on and off the pitch, is about inspiring and helping young people.

That starts with being a positive role model for her 13-year-old daughter, and as evidenced by the non-stop nature of her schedule, it seemingly never stops.

Explaining why she is so keen to continue to inspire those who are finding their way in life, the Rhinos star said: “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to learn more about myself.

“When I was working at Rugby League Cares and we used to run sessions in the community, you’d see a lot of the younger guys struggling.

“I think it’s the self-reflection of knowing that if I can provide some support or be a positive influence on someone, then that might change someone or guide them in a different way.

“I feel like if we can address this issue at a young age, it gives people the tools to be able to go on and succeed in life and manage themselves through challenging situations.

“We probably don’t teach resilience enough and how important it is to accept that not everything in life is going to be simple.

“When an obstacle comes up, you tend to go inside yourself and you don’t want to get out, so you get stuck.

“But if you can support and give people the right tools, then they can acknowledge those feelings and think, ‘That’s OK, I’ll think about how I can approach it differently.’

“It’s important to me even more than being a mother. Young people need the right people around them to support them and be empathetic, you really can make a difference and that’s what I strive to do.”

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“I’m conditioned that way now…I’m a go-getter kind of person”

Team DNA is something that is referred to a lot, not just in rugby league, but throughout the sporting world in general.

When characters like Hardcastle are in your dressing room, that sort of thing takes care of itself, a role model for the young members of the playing squad at Headingley as well as those watching from the stands.

But the believer says she needs them as much as they need her, admitting there is a fear in her of having to hang up her boots at some point.

She elaborated: “Being a mum, running two jobs, being the head coach at Halifax, training and fitting it all into my schedule is part of who I am now.

“I’m conditioned that way now, and if I didn’t have all of that, it would scare me because I’m a go-getter kind of person.

“I appreciate all the opportunities I have and I appreciate this time because I know it won’t be here forever.

“Even though when you look at it on paper, you’re like, ‘how can a person manage that?’, it’s pretty easy when that’s all you’ve ever known.

“My daughter is 13 now, so it’s been the last 13 years. But it makes it all that much more worthwhile because of how much meaning there is behind it and how much sacrifice there is.

“I work hard at what I do and enjoy a quiet life at home, going to training and seeing my friends, then going back into hiding!”

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