When England begin their defence of the Women’s Six Nations against Ireland on Saturday at Twickenham, they will do so without three players who are preparing to become mothers for the first time. Zoe Stratford, Lark Atkin-Davies and Rosie Galligan are all absent as they navigate pregnancy, leaving England to start the tournament with notable gaps in their squad.
Their situation highlights a broader reality in women’s rugby: for players who step away from the game to have children, the return can bring more than a physical comeback. It can also mean a shift in mindset, role and identity. That is the view of Kelsey Gentles, the England rugby league player who has already experienced a return to elite sport after becoming a mother.
A return that changed everything
Gentles left the Women’s Super League in 2023 as a fast, skilful outside back. By the time she returned the following year, after giving birth to her daughter Maia, she was playing a very different position. Instead of operating in the back line, she came back as a prop, using her strength to drive through contact and create space by blasting holes in defensive lines.
That transition was more than a tactical switch. It marked a personal transformation as well. Gentles has described herself as a different player and a different person after motherhood, and she believes other athletes should be ready to embrace that kind of change rather than resist it.
Challenges and reward
Her comeback was not straightforward. Returning to top-level sport after childbirth brought challenges, even as she adapted to the demands of a new position and a new stage of life. Still, the outcome was memorable.
Gentles played a central part in York Valkyrie’s Grand Final victory, scoring the winning try as the club sealed the title. It was a striking example of how a player can return to elite competition in a different form and still produce decisive moments at the highest level.
The experience suggests that the period after motherhood can be one of reinvention as much as recovery. For some players, the change may involve physical adjustments to training and match demands. For others, it may bring greater perspective, confidence or resilience. In Gentles’s case, it produced a new version of her game that was just as valuable, if not more so, than the one she had shown before.
What England may face next
For England, the immediate focus is the Six Nations opener against Ireland. But the long-term picture may be just as significant. The absence of Stratford, Atkin-Davies and Galligan is temporary, and when they return they may arrive with new experiences that alter how they approach the sport.
That is why Gentles’s story carries weight beyond her own code. Her comeback offers a reminder that motherhood does not necessarily mean the end of a high-level sporting career. Instead, it can lead to a different kind of contribution, shaped by new responsibilities and new strengths.
As England start their championship campaign, the question is not only how they will cope without key players now, but also how those players might look when they come back. If Gentles is any guide, they may return changed — and perhaps stronger for it.
