At home with the Becketts: Charlie & Sarah prepare for Saturday clash

Before Charlie Beckett’s Sale Sharks take on sister Sarah’s Gloucester Hartpury, the two will share a meal at their mum’s. 

There will be no talk of game plans ahead of the match, which takes place at 12:30pm on Saturday 7 February, but there will be plenty of predictions for the Super Bowl and the family’s sweepstake. 

The two are understandably competitive but, when it comes to their individual careers, the overwhelming feelings are pride and respect. 

“I always say that Charlie was one of my role models growing up,” Sarah said of her older brother. 

“I never saw anyone work as hard as he did. I can remember when he was 15, going out running before school, when Dad really had him on a  fitness regime.  

“I can remember him coming in from a run and just thinking that is mental, going out and getting it done before school at this age to achieve what you want to achieve. 

“It laid the groundwork for me of hard work and what it takes to succeed, and I am lucky I had someone paving that path for me. 

“He was always there with his advice, whether it was good or bad, that was up for me to decide!  

“He was always a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on when things aren’t going well, but also a number one supporter.” 

Charlie enjoyed age-group success with England and also featured in the Gallagher PREM and Champ before retiring a couple of years ago. 

Since then, he has moved into coaching in the PWR, first with Loughborough Lightning and now with Sale Sharks. 

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All the while, the 30-year-old has supported his sister, whom he calls Essie, without an ounce of bitterness as she has won PWR and Six Nations titles. 

Charlie said: “It is an immense amount of pride, I can’t sit here and lie and say there isn’t a bit of envy. That’s not towards Essie, she deserves every single bit of success she has had. 

“Of course, I wish I had had the success she has had, of course I wish I had 35 England caps, four PREM in my trophy cabinet, of course I do, but that is something I live with, I deal with.  

“I made the decision to retire at a younger age because I realised I had achieved everything I was going to as a player, and I had, and have, huge coaching ambitions. So I wanted to start the next phase of my rugby career.  

“I wish we had both had that success, but I don’t have any envy or wish that Sarah hadn’t had hers. I don’t think there is anyone prouder than me of her.  

“I feel incredibly blessed to have had a front-row seat to watch what is one of the most phenomenal PWR careers we’ve seen. No one has won more titles than Sarah Beckett, and she is about to turn 27.” 

Like many professional athletes, Sarah is self-deprecating. She wishes for more from her career, particularly on the international stage, but is very quick to big up Charlie’s achievements as both a coach and a player. 

He is an exciting young talent at a reborn Sale Sharks, who will hope to end Gloucester Hartpurys winning run. 

The seeds for their success began as kids, with both playing for Waterloo Rugby Club and spending hours dissecting matches on TV with their dad. 

Their parents will be in attendance at Morson Stadium on Saturday, with 25 tickets requested for the Becketts’ friends and family and Sarah even added a couple more over the course of the interview. 

There are strong links everywhere you look between the Sharks and Gloucester, with co-captain Zoe Stratford married to Sharks coach Luke, while Gwen Pyrs, herself a former member of the Circus, is the sister of current Gloucester player Alaw Pyrs. 

While most fans in attendance will pick a side, those there for the Becketts will have a trickier time. 

“It’s like dad’s dream, he gets to critique both of us, in the same game, in one day,” Sarah joked. 

Charlie added: “The thing that is hard for the family is Sarah is on the pitch and I’m not and so it is hard to see that that is my team. If Sarah does a good linebreak, it is not like I have missed the tackle.  

“I think it is hard for them, I think Mum struggles with it the most. It is fun for them while also being awful.”