Lilli Ives Campion Interview: The England leader with a bright future
Ives Campion is certainly a Red Rose to keep an eye on ahead of the World Cup in 2025
©Matteo Pellegrinuzzi Six Nations
At just 20 years old, Lilli Ives Campion has emerged as a significant talent in Premiership Women’s Rugby and on the international stage.
The Loughborough Lightning lock - who signed a new deal with the PWR club back in January - captained England Under-20s in the recent Six Nations Women’s Summer Series against Ireland, Wales and France.
Despite a disappointing 72-21 defeat to France in their final game last Sunday, Ives Campion was influential in her side's progress over in Parma, Italy.
Player of the Match in England’s opener against Ireland, where she crossed the whitewash on two occasions, the second-row had quite a memorable campaign and feels immensely proud to have captained her country.
“It's a complete honour and it has been throughout this tournament” she begins. “The group of girls are honestly outstanding. In terms of captaining this team, I feel really proud and I always feel really proud to captain such an amazing group with such a vast amount of talent.
“In the Wales game [England’s second match of the Summer Series which they won 55-24], I wasn't playing. This is where you take a step back from the playing role and think how am I best going to prepare this team for Wales?
“How can I utilise my skills that I have and how can I best prepare them against Wales on the pitch - that's where my role changed.
“That's why I wanted to work together with Steph [Else], the other captain. We worked so well together collectively and got the squad where they needed to be and what they needed going into that game. To watch the game from the sidelines, I was so proud of the girls in that game and the performance they put in”.
Last year, Ives Campion was one of six players to be offered a transition contract by the Rugby Football Union.
The contract supports aspiring Red Roses in their early professional journey and at the beginning of last month, the 20-year-old once again secured a contract.
“It was an amazing experience,” she tells TRU. “I think that it was just a real proud feeling. I think because I had one last year and it was only for a year, I wondered if I'd get one again.
“I didn't know how it worked and then obviously I got awarded another one this year with Steph Else as well. It was such an exciting feeling and it's so exciting that I get to experience it in a new environment and go and train with people I've idolised for years and I think that that's so important for the game.
“I think for everyone here as well, it shows it's like a target as such. Actually for girls to think that's something they could aspire towards, that's amazing. It's been really good and a great experience over the last year.”
Looking ahead, it is set to be a big 12 months or so for the Red Roses and perhaps for Ives Campion as well.
With a home World Cup kicking off in August 2025, England - who are currently the number one ranked side in the world - will undoubtedly be targeting the big prize after beginning the John Mitchell era by retaining their Six Nations crown back in April.
Ives Campion was part of England’s training squad for that campaign and despite experiencing the senior environment, she isn’t getting carried away.
“He [Mitchell] is a remarkable coach,” adds Ives Campion. “He's got so much experience, I can't even begin to tell you. He's one of the great coaches and I think his view on the game is unique and detailed. I think he's a really inspirational coach and he's such a lovely person as well. He's an amazing person to be coached by and play under.
“It [going to the 2025 World Cup] is something I think I aspire to but I want to try and take on the journey that I'm on.
“I want to relish every opportunity I'm given before I jump ahead of anything. Obviously, it's a goal I'd love to achieve and I think everyone in this [Under-20s] environment has a goal of playing in the Rugby World Cup.
“However, in the meantime, it's a long way before I get there and I'd just really like to relish every opportunity I have and develop as much as I can.”
Those ‘opportunities’ Ives Campion references will mostly come in the PWR as Loughborough aim to build on the fifth-placed finish they achieved in 2023/24.
The lock played 13 times in the PWR last term and while Ives Campion has been over in Italy, Lightning have been bolstering their squad ahead of next season.
Players such as Canada Sevens’ Krissy Scurfield and USA star Alev Kelter will join the Midlands outfit ahead of the new campaign whilst the likes of Helen Nelson and Emily Scarratt have committed their immediate futures to the club after signing new contracts.
Add in the fact that below the senior team, Loughborough University reached the BUCS Women’s National League final back in April, it isn’t a surprise to hear Ives Campion sound so optimistic about 2024/25.
“Last season, we worked really hard and had a new head coach [Nathan Smith] come in,” she says. “For us, we were frustrated at the end of the season because we wanted the season to continue. We just wanted more games because we were playing really well and I think that's what is exciting for this season.
“We've got an amazing group. Our plan and goal as a team is what's going to make us have a really great season. We just need to perform and I think we have the opportunity to do that this season.
“I'm so excited. I can't wait to get stuck into this season with the team and I'm really excited to see where we're going to end up because I think we have real potential.
“We're a very aligned club. We align with the BUCS, College and Premiership teams. We all have a real common goal and whatever that rugby outlook looks like, whether that's at university or in the Premiership, we want to create players to be the best that they can be and to perform in whatever league.
“Fingers crossed, it's going to be a really exciting season and I'm just really excited to get stuck in with the girls when they get back.”
