Bold fact: even high-flying success comes with a heavy mental price. Tommy Freeman, England’s livewire back, has opened up about the mental strain that accompanied a season long enough to push a player beyond welfare limits, despite finishing with a victorious Lions tour in Australia.
Freeman logged 34 matches last season—19 for Northampton, nine for England, and six for the Lions. He describes a creeping “built-up anxiety” that grew alongside the workload. Although the sport’s rules set a 30-match cap, players received dispensation for the Lions tour on the understanding they would get five weeks off upon returning from Australia, causing them to miss the first two rounds of the 2025-26 season.
The 24-year-old started all three Tests against the Wallabies and was one of 15 England players on the Lions trip. Ireland, England’s upcoming opponent at Twickenham, contributed 18 players to a squad led by head coach Andy Farrell.
Freeman made his Northampton return in round three of the Premiership in October, but his coaches Phil Dowson and Sam Vesty noticed something wasn’t right and adjusted his workload. He began England’s autumn wins over Australia and Fiji, but a hamstring issue stalled him, delaying his comeback until just before Christmas. Since then, he has appeared in every match he’s available for.
“I struggled without realising it,” Freeman admitted. “I had the five weeks off, the body felt good, but my mental state wasn’t in the best spot. Saints picked up on that and gave me the time I needed. England also picked up on it and gradually eased me back into games properly. They’ve handled it really well since then.”
Meanwhile, a separate development in Irish rugby has stirred debate. Edwin Edogbo’s international debut was met with racist abuse online, prompting the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to launch an investigation. The 23-year-old Munster second-row, born in Ireland to Nigerian parents, came on as a substitute in Ireland’s 20-13 Six Nations win over Italy in Dublin. The IRFU condemned the comments, confirmed collaboration with Signify (a firm that protects against online abuse), and reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on racism. Edogbo received a huge ovation when he entered the game and helped Ireland close out the victory.
Freeman added that the Lions tour, following roughly 34 matches, left him fatigued in a way he hadn’t anticipated. He believes better management of his downtime could have helped, noting a mental strain that wasn’t immediately visible. “I didn’t fully realise the buildup,” he said. “Mentally it was a struggle, even when the body felt fine. The coaching staff stepped in, adjusting gym work, running, and training to ease the load, which helped.”
Looking ahead, Freeman’s spot in England’s lineup remains under consideration, either at centre or on the wing, as the team aims to rebound against Ireland at Twickenham. Head coach Steve Borthwick is weighing Henry Arundell’s disciplinary status and may also consider adding versatility with Marcus Smith or George Furbank.
Curry, who subbed on at Murrayfield for Sam Underhill, is pressing for a starting role to bring greater physical presence. “We have to front up physically, especially early in the game,” Curry noted. “There were chances we didn’t capitalise on due to ball bounce and other variables, but we had opportunities to push forward.” As ever, Borthwick’s approach centers on reframing challenges and pursuing the crucial, tangible improvements that can turn a loss into a strong response.
What do you think about how teams should balance a demanding schedule with players’ mental health — and should governing bodies tighten or loosen the play-time limits to protect athletes?
