James Whitcombe, Dan Kelly, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Finn Carnduff all play at the highest level of English club rugby, and know a thing or two about coping with pressure.
Representing Leicester Tigers, they take to the pitch knowing everything they do will be scrutinised by coaches, pundits and, of course, fans.
While few of us will ever know what it’s like to play professional sports in front of thousands of people, we all face our own high-pressure moments, be that in the form of assessments, interviews or social situations.
To help ensure we are at our best mentally, the Tigers have shared their tips for coping with pressure and stress.
Watch Ollie Hassell-Collins and Finn Carduff from Leicester Tigers share their tips for coping with pressure and looking after their wellbeing.
Role models and advice
One of James’s key tips is to look up to your role-models, which for him are the likes of his teammate and two-time World Cup winner Handré Pollard.
“Spend time with people you want to be like,” James said. “Watch what they do and understand why you want to be like that and what you need to do to be like that.
“Learn off the people who have achieved things you haven’t.”
Dan’s advice is not to carry yourself and stay humble. He said: “Players I know don’t get too high on themselves but don’t get too low either. They enjoy themselves but don’t get carried away.
“Having balance and consistency is key but don’t be too hard on yourself when it’s not going the right way.”
Preparation is key
Before a matchday, the Tigers will spend their week preparing for their opponents to ensure they have the best chance of winning. Unsurprisingly, that translates well into all aspects of life.
Dan, who has a degree in Business, said: “Try not to put yourself under any undue pressure. Thinking back to when I was at uni, that preparation came at the start of the semester and I didn’t leave everything to the last minute.
“There will be people that can cram, but that’s where the stress and pressure comes in. Space out your time so you can enjoy a balanced life.
“As long as you’re organised, you can minimise the pressure.”
Music
Music can accompany any mood. Before kick-off, Dan has a range of tastes for whatever mindset he needs for the match.
“Personally, I’ll listen to music for about 20 minutes, get strapped, and head out.
“If I’m a bit over-hyped, I calm myself down – maybe a bit of Bryan Adams or something like that. If I need a bit of a lift, I’d maybe pick something like 50 Cent.”
Destressing
For James, socialising is a key way of relieving stress. He said: “After a stressful situation like a loss, we take some time away then look back over the learnings as to what made that stressful.
“After that, when we get downtime, we go out for food together as a group, we go out for coffee – it’s a good way to decompress.
“Go out of your way to speak to your mates and spend time with each other.”
Dan echoes that socialising can help you unwind and combines that with playing sports outside of rugby, enjoying golf and darts.
“For me, there’s a life outside of rugby and it should be the same for exams. The world goes on, so find something that you can just enjoy. There will always be more opportunities in the future.”
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Posted on Monday 28 April 2025