Izzi Power, Flanker for the Guernsey Raiders Ladies, dives into her experience of being a Mum, and also playing for the Guernsey Raiders. Izzi and Fi welcomed Jamie into the world in December 2024. Izzi returned to rugby when she could, but began playing again in Pre-Season of 2025, taking part in a number of our internal friendlies. The biggest moment was in October 2025, when Izzi played in the Uckfield side, with Jamie cheering her on from the sidelines.

So how did it feel coming back to Rugby? Izzi told us all about her experience below...

How did you find your return to rugby?

I found it super hard to return at first. Getting used to the fact that my body wasn't the same, that I wasn't as fit and wasn't as strong as I was pre-pregnancy, was a big shock to me at first. It took a lot of work to adjust to a different idea of what my body can do. On the other hand, I think it was really important to my own sanity that I tried so hard to come back to rugby. I think, especially while I was off work on maternity leave, it would have been really easy for me to lose my identity a bit in becoming a mum, and returning to rugby really meant that I could have some normalcy and a part of my life that wasn't revolving around the baby. This absolutely saved my mental health at times.

How do you find managing training and also being a mum?

Always a juggle and difficult with my wife playing for the same team, but luckily our family & friends have been amazing watching J while we've trained, not to mention weeks and weeks of injured teammates on the side of the pitch babysitting for us so that we could have a run around (as though you needed proof that we have the most amazing and supportive team ever).

If you could give one piece of advice to mums thinking about returning to/joining rugby, what would that be?

Go for it. Don't underestimate how amazing it feels to look across a rugby pitch and see your own baby smiling at you.

How has becoming/being a mum changed your perspective on the game?

The amount of pride I have for simply getting back on a rugby pitch after giving birth cannot be understated. The idea of getting injured terrifies me, but honestly not getting to run around a rugby pitch with my teammates is a much scarier idea.