Coronavirus: Jillaroos rugby league players keeping active amid COVID-19 outbreak
They are known for being tough and fearless and the way Kezie Apps and her Jillaroos teammates are responding to the coronavirus crisis is one of the reasons they have this reputation.
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Breathing, ice baths, home workouts lifting 20-25 kilo children and
dogs and social media check ins are how Kezie Apps and Australian
Jillaroos teammates plan to retain their reputation as some of the
toughest women in Australian sport.
Waiting to hear if their major domestic competition, the NRLW, will go
ahead in 2020, the Jillaroos veteran said players are still preparing
as if they will be playing a series of games later this season if
competition resumes.
Players are in constant contact with each other via a WhatsApp group
with the Jillaroos sharing videos of each other’s training to keep
each other motivated.
“We are all keeping each other accountable and motivated,“ said Saint
George Illawarra Dragons captain Apos, who is currently living in
Bega.
“We are doing training sessions, filming it and then posted in our
group channel.
“We’re all trying to be better people and doing everything we can so
come World Cup next year we’re in our best possible form.
“There’s a new method that we’re trying to do, which is the Wim Hof
Method, and it’s about breathing and doing these ice baths and cold
showers and stuff like that so you know when someone is putting in.
“We have to be ready for the World Cup which is our end goal. That’s
why it’s so important to keep everyone driven and motivated.
“Everything we do now will help later down the track.
"How many babies can you lift?" 😂
— Jillaroos (@AusJillaroos) March 30, 2020
Botille Vette-Welsh gets creative with her challenge! pic.twitter.com/z0wObLS8oQ
If we slack off now it will be so much harder.
“The Jillaroos are seen as being tough women and we are very proud of that.
“We’re still holding jobs and family and working outsides our lives as
footballers to be the best we can.”
Australia’s top players, representing the fastest growing area of
rugby league, have also been concocting ways to help inspire young
players to stay fit, healthy and connected to the game during the
coronavirus.
“On the Jillaroos social setting channels we are setting up new
challenges,” Apps said.
“We want people motivated and being interactive online and active at home.”
In a recent challenge Botille Vette-Welsh showed great creativity in
her training by lifting her 20kg and 25 kilo sons - and then the
family dog.