Outside the Lines: Tatyana Heard

Powerful, composed and quietly commanding, Tatyana Heard has become one of the standout figures for Gloucester Hartpury and the Red Roses.

Known for her physicality and control, her presence on the pitch is built on confidence, precision and an unwavering sense of self.

Away from rugby, that same confidence carries into her personal style. Effortless yet intentional, Tatyana approaches fashion as another form of expression - balancing comfort with elevated details that reflect her personality beyond the game.

How would you describe your personal style?

Feminine and confident. I like to express myself and feel confident through my clothing.

What does a typical off-day outfit look like for you?

It’s either a tracksuit or a really put-together outfit, depending on the day.

Do you think your style has changed since becoming a professional rugby player?

Definitely. A lot of that is down to the opportunities that rugby has given me.

I started a partnership with ALIGNE last season which gave me confidence to wear things I feel good in. I feel more comfortable dressing slightly outside my comfort zone and realising that I feel good in that too.

Do you think feeling confident in what you wear off the pitch feeds into your confidence on it, or do you think that's just a completely separate thing?

It definitely does, feeling good is great for your performance. Being able to express myself outside of rugby has grown my confidence on the field, as well as off it.

Is there anything that you incorporate from rugby style into your personal style?

I like wearing things I feel comfortable in, so I keep the two worlds separate.

Matchday Tatyana vs non-matchday Tatyana - how different are they style-wise?

Hugely different. Mainly because there’s more freedom in how you present yourself away from the pitch. I express my style through my hair and accessories, so I sometimes match my nails to my rugby boots to link the two.

Is there a piece in your wardrobe that you always come back to, or that means something special to you?

My trench coat. I got it when my partnership started with ALIGNE and you can pair it with anything to elevate an outfit. I went to the Christmas markets in a tracksuit, so put it over the top and felt so much better!

The piece itself highlights how far I’ve come in my journey. It was one of the first items I got from their collection and to even have that partnership was amazing.

Who or what inspires your style in any sort of way, whether that's teammates, social media, designers, or just life around you?

Zoe Stratford (née Aldcroft) is a big inspiration for me – she looks amazing in everything she wears! She has the confidence to step out of her comfort zone to try new things, which she always manages to pull off.

Social media is another inspiration because style is constantly changing. It’s easy to be stuck in a bubble of what you’re surrounded by, so to see the style of people in other sports or environments is really inspiring.

So many women in sport are expressing themselves through fashion and beauty, which is a really cool place to be.

How important do you think it is for women’s rugby to show players’ personalities and style away from the pitch?

It’s massive. There’s so much to female athletes and we should be able to feel comfortable expressing ourselves. That kind of expression resonates with the people in the stands, too.

You can come to our games and be who you want to be, without a binary. Having that is so important.

What fashion trend would you bring back from the grave?

Anything except skinny jeans or jeggings.