She debuted for England in 2017, won the Rugby World Cup in 2025, and plays for one of the most successful clubs in the country. Zoe Harrison is one of the most exciting players in women's rugby, and this conversation goes far beyond the sport itself.

In this episode of the Money and Us podcast, Anna sits down with Zoe for a candid conversation about elite sport, money and the realities most people never consider when they watch female athletes compete on TV.

Zoe talks openly about the financial challenges facing women in professional sport, the significant gap between what spectators see and what athletes actually live, and why so many female players are still having to balance their sporting careers alongside full time jobs. She also gets into the mental demands of performing at the highest level, what elite sport teaches you about resilience, confidence and how to think about success, and why the mindset you build on the pitch follows you into every other area of your life.

Perhaps most compellingly, Zoe reflects on something most athletes don't consider until it's almost too late. When a sporting career ends, you don't step off at the top. You step back to the beginning, years behind your peers, and have to start building all over again. It's a conversation about sport, money and what happens when the thing that has defined your whole life suddenly has to change.

Key Moments:

• The G-force of a contact in women’s rugby is the equivalent of a car crash at 20mph
• How Zoe went from tag rugby at four years old to playing for England
• The financial reality most people don’t see when they watch female athletes on TV
• The lack of financial support in women’s club rugby and what that means day to day
• The mental challenge of performing at the highest level consistently
• Why elite athletes are so focused on the present that they forget to think about what comes next
• What happens financially when a sports career ends, and why it’s harder than most people realise
• What wealth means to Zoe, and why her answer is beautifully simple

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:55 Fact or Fiction: Rugby Hits Like a 20mph Car Crash
04:05 How Zoe Harrison Fell in Love with Rugby
07:53 Being Bullied for Playing Rugby
10:21 From Hobby to England International
13:27 Can Women Make a Living From Rugby?
18:20 How Women's Rugby Can Keep Growing
20:14 What It Feels Like to Play at a Sold-Out Twickenham
21:42 Preparing to Play for England
24:14 The Leadership Skills Rugby Taught Me
26:41 Losing the Rugby World Cup Final
30:16 Turning Defeat Into Motivation
36:33 The ACL Injury That Changed Everything
38:01 Why Her Injury Made Her a Better Athlete
41:26 The Sacrifices Behind Elite Sport
43:14 Fighting to Win Her Place Back
44:56 Winning the Rugby World Cup
47:01 The Emotional Side of Success Nobody Talks About
50:06 Why Purpose Matters After Achieving Your Goal
52:50 The Financial Reality of Women's Rugby
55:55 Planning for Life After Professional Sport
59:37 What Wealth Means to Zoe Harrison

Follow Zoe Harrison:

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