LIZZIE HANLON: FROM DIVING TO EXETER CHIEFS

It seems to be a pattern that whatever Exeter Chief Lizzie Hanlon does, she does well, writes Elise Hamersley.

Having only picked up a rugby ball in sixth form, the prop’s quick progression through the sport saw her debut for the Devon outfit just three years later in 2021.

The 22-year-old originally began her athletic journey in gymnastics at the age of six before eventually settling into diving by the time she was 12.  

Reaching the top 20 in the country for her national age group by the time she left the sport, the Epsom native insists diving and rugby have more in common than you might think. 

“Age 12 sounds pretty early but it was late for diving, so I basically missed the boat on being an amazing diver,” Hanlon said. “The instinct [in rugby] came naturally to me but I’d never done a team sport.  

“In my head I’ve still got the brain of a diver which is technique and perfectionist and then the body for rugby really.  

“I do think I’m built more for rugby than diving, so the physicality also came naturally.  

“All the strength and flexibility I developed from diving, even though it doesn’t seem like it would translate, I do think it’s helped me a lot. 

“Flexibility in scrums ­– you can be in more awkward positions and still have a level of strength there.  

“Diving helped me progress quicker in the gym too especially at the start. Because the sport is all about such perfect movements, I think I developed good discipline for technique from it.” 

Hanlon left diving behind during her GCSEs and began her rugby journey after one of her teachers hosted a Sevens taster session. From there she joined her local club, Sutton and Epsom, before moving to the University of Exeter to complete a degree in biology.  

While studying, she played for the university’s first team and was one of the first players to take advantage of the blossoming link between the university and an Exeter Chiefs Women’s team, then in its infancy. 

“If I’m honest I just kind of fell into it,” she explained. “I enjoyed having a hobby, I really liked it and realised I was decent at it, so I tried it at university as well and that’s when I started trying a bit harder.  

“I remember the people around me playing in first year, with Holly Cunningham, Jess Thomas, Lilly Stoeger-Goddard being in the Premiership; it didn’t feel like it was out of reach. 

“I also don’t think I’m very good at half-arsing things. With diving it was only ever meant to be a hobby and then I started getting good and carried on so I think once I started playing rugby it was a commitment, and I won’t stop until I can’t play anymore.” 

Since her league debut in 2020, Hanlon has spent the last four years developing with the Chiefs. This season she stepped up into a starting position in the Allianz Cup and has been a consistent feature off the bench during the regular season. 

With increased game maturity, the graduate has been finding her voice off the pitch too. 

“It was one of the biggest changes from diving to rugby,” she said. “In diving you got feedback on every single dive, it was niche and there’s no such thing as a perfect dive.  

“With rugby a lot of it is self-led. In the scrum, which is the most technical, that’s when you get the most feedback but even then you’ve got 16 players going at once. Not everyone gets feedback after every scrum, that’s the way it is.  

“That’s a big adjustment that even now I’m trying to navigate, I’ve got to get better at asking for feedback. I am being much more successful in asking for what I need.” 

With something to prove after being league runners up for two consecutive seasons, Exeter Chiefs held onto a three-game unbeaten streak until their showdown with defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury last weekend, which ended in a narrow 31-27 defeat.

“We didn’t talk about the unbeaten streak,” Hanlon said. “We won the game, we reviewed the game and we were onto the next hoping to play better. 

“It didn’t get voiced, and I think that was nice because it allowed people to think about it how they wanted to and get in their most successful mindset.” 

Despite not planning her entry into the Premiership, Hanlon has set some lofty goals in the sport. But she doesn’t waste time on looking up at her target.

“You know when you’re cycling up a hill?” Hanlon explained. “I think some people look to the top of the hill – I look at my feet and just keep pedalling.

“I have got goals. I really would love to play for England but it’s not something I obsess about.  

“I want to be the best rugby player I can be and I hope that can eventually take me to England.  

“Saying I want to play for England isn’t going to get me to play for England, playing better rugby is going to get me there.”