Julia Schell on Trailfinders' finding their groove and the team mate 'blowing minds'

Trailfinders’ Julia Schell is upbeat as we chat about the scare her team caused Gloucester-Hartpury in their own back yard last weekend. There were seconds left to go against the reigning PWR champions, with the score at 33-31 when Trailfinders broke down the pitch and entered the opposing 22 with the Kingsholm crowd looking on silenced.

It wasn’t to be however, a knock on signalling the end of the match and another loss for the Ealing-based team, despite walking away with two bonus points.

Despite sitting third bottom of the table, it was a similar story in Round 12 when they pushed a table topping Harlequins side incredibly close, in the end losing 39-46.

“It feels like we are starting to find our groove in the league. We’re now seeing we’re up there with some of the big name teams and we can start taking the wins in those situations,’ said the 28-year-old Canadian.

“After the game against Gloucester-Hartpury there was a weird balance of feeling lifted by our performance as we know we can perform so well, but the mindset is starting to change now where we know we don’t just have to compete against these teams, we can actually win.

“Obviously, we are still a newer squad in the league but we’re having a really positive shift coming into the second half of the season. Just seeing how close we can get, sometimes it feels like more of a frustration and like ‘let’s take the win next time.’”

Schell is one of a large handful of current Canadian internationals plying their trade in England, with club team mates Emma Taylor, Tyson Beukeboom and Rori Wood, compatriots she sees on a daily basis.

“It’s absolutely class being here with other Canadians, especially people like Tyson who I have played with for quite a few years. Rori is newer in our Canadian squad but she is blowing minds, she’s absolutely unreal- I love seeing her grow into herself as a player and a person and see that progress. I love seeing my Canadian team mates every weekend it brings so much joy to my week.”

 

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The Uxbridge local will be used to the cold spells currently being experienced in England with the current temperature in Ontario, Canada at -16 degrees, and you can tell from a quick glance at Schell’s Instagram page just how much she loves being at home.

“I do miss certain things, I don’t have a car here and I miss my dog and family but this is the life we have always wanted and just because we can’t have a league like this in our back yard, putting rugby at the forefront is the big focus for all of us.

“I miss the snow a lot. In England it’s cold and then it rains and I feel like I can’t get warm ever again- so I don’t enjoy that as much!”

The utility back has been called upon in many different positions in the back line for Trailfinders this season, and Schell admits she’s had to adjust to the relentlessness of the league.

“I’ve had to hone in on the mental side of my game this season as I’m not used to playing this many games on the bounce against the quality of opposition in the PWR every week. I play a few positions in the backs, and we like to play with the idea that everyone can have the mindset of a ten, so being able to play so many games in a high pressure decision making role, is really helpful for me.

“Specifically when I go back to slotting in at 12 or 13 or 15 or wherever I find myself – it’s like a puzzle each weekend and I really like the challenge of that.”

With only four rounds left of regular season rugby in the PWR, soon all eyes will be shifting to upcoming international matches including the Women’s Six Nations and Pacific Four competitions.

“After the PWR season ends I’ll take a few weeks off and then we haven’t confirmed an exact date of when we’re going to get together as a national squad as some players will be competing in the PWR top four play-offs. But I will plan to join the team into the spring and then after Pacific Four we’re in for the rest of the year leading into the World Cup, so I will need to take that time off before it’s all go, go, go.”

For the time being Schell is just enjoying being part of a constantly improving Trailfinders team, with the opportunity to keep in touch with her Canadian team mates who are also based in England, rarely missed.

“All the Canadian girls in the PWR are part of a WhatsApp group and every week post-game there’ll be a clip of something someone will post. Last week a few of our backs joined the Exeter maul so we like to pull that into the group chat and have some funny banter.

“We talk in the group every day, sometimes it’s light hearted and sometimes more technical where we will talk skills and game plan.”