Rugby League Star Amy Hardcastle’s Inspiring Dual Roles On and Off the Pitch
If you think you’ve got a busy schedule, take a look at Leeds Rhinos star Amy Hardcastle’s weekly routine and you’ll quickly understand the true meaning of the word “busy.” The 35-year-old England international juggles her rugby league career with an impressive array of roles supporting young people across West Yorkshire, and this Saturday, she’ll have the backing of hundreds as she steps out at Wembley Stadium.
Hardcastle will don the Rhinos’ colors for the second consecutive year in the Women’s Challenge Cup final, having been part of last year’s historic maiden appearance under the famous Wembley arch. This time, the opponent will once again be former club St Helens, with the Leeds ace eager to avenge their 22-8 defeat in 2022.
“It’s been a hectic few months for me, and this is a big occasion, it’s one of the biggest things you can do in your rugby career. I’m just going to get in the gym, recover well, eat well and just repeat that until we get on the coach at Headingley on Friday morning.”
Hardcastle’s non-stop schedule is nothing short of remarkable. Alongside her rugby league and motherhood duties, she is currently undertaking level four counseling training to become a youth counselor. She works two days a week for a charity providing wellbeing and mental health support, and another two days with the Halifax Panthers Foundation, coaching and developing the women’s and girls’ programs.
“I’m currently doing my level four counselling, because I want to be a counsellor for young people,” Hardcastle revealed. “I work two days for a charity called Invictus Wellbeing, which is in Halifax, providing wellbeing and counselling for young people. Then I do two days a week with the Halifax Panthers Foundation for the women & girls.”
Hardcastle’s passion for inspiring and supporting young people is at the heart of her endeavors, both on and off the field. As she explains, “If we can tackle that issue at a young age, it provides people with the tools to be able to go on and succeed in life and be able to manage themselves through challenging situations.” The Rhinos stalwart is driven by the belief that she can make a genuine difference in the lives of those she encounters.
While Hardcastle’s hectic schedule may seem daunting to some, she embraces it wholeheartedly, admitting that “if I didn’t have all of this, it’d scare me because I’m an on-the-go type of person.” As she prepares to lead the Rhinos out at Wembley, the rugby league star will have the unwavering support of the hundreds of young people whose lives she’s impacted through her tireless work.
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