Elsbeth Innes: Leading from the Front in Women’s Rugby

Balancing university studies with training, travel, and matches across multiple teams wasn't easy. Once the academic year kicked in, Elsbeth made the tough decision to scale back her involvement with Sale’s first team due to time constraints. Still, she remained closely linked, receiving gym plans, nutritional support, and regular check-ins from their staff. The key to keeping everything in balance? Discipline, recovery, and the ability to switch off when needed. With most weeks involving two games, Wednesdays with Beckett, Saturdays with West Park — Elsbeth had to be meticulous with recovery and preparation.

After Leeds Beckett’s relegation the previous season, this year was about rebuilding. With new faces in the squad and a new league to navigate, the team found fresh motivation. While some games saw dominant wins, others were tight battles that tested their character. The result? A more enjoyable, connected season that saw the group rediscover their identity and finish top of the BUCS Women’s Northern Tier 1 division. 

Elsbeth took on a co-captaincy role this year, and while there were highs, it wasn’t without challenges. A mid-season spell of fatigue set in after months of matches, academic pressure, and work, but with open conversations with coaches and academic staff, plus the support of her teammates, she found her way back to form.

Despite the fatigue, there were many standout moments. A strong early season, a memorable Varsity performance at AMT Headingley Stadium, and a dramatic home win for West Park against Sale highlighted her form. But nothing topped the final chapter: representing Yorkshire at Twickenham Stadium, where she lifted the county championship trophy.

“It felt surreal,” she said. “Playing at Twickenham, in the sun, with family in the stands—it was the perfect way to finish a hard season. That day felt like everything had come full circle.”

Leeds Beckett’s performance and recovery facilities played a big role in her development, with access to elite-level physio, sport massage and a top performance gym. But it wasn’t just about the physical support—Elsbeth credits her lecturers, coaches, and teammates for creating an environment where she could thrive both on and off the pitch.

Varsity, for Elsbeth, has always been the day that encapsulates everything she loves about Beckett rugby. Playing in front of a roaring crowd with her friends beside her was the emotional peak of the year. “It’s not just the result,” she says. “It’s the build-up, the atmosphere—being present in that moment.”

Now graduated and preparing for a PGCE, she takes forward a whole toolkit of lessons: leadership, presence, teamwork, and joy. Rugby has shaped how she communicates, supports others, and leads under pressure—and she’s ready to carry that into the classroom.