Working Through Corona with Claire Garner

The 2019 season was a bittersweet one for the Castleford player. From the heights of a Challenge Cup Final to the lows of a season ending knee injury; the former England International has certainly experienced it all.

Garner is currently based in Belfast Northern Ireland as she continues her recovery from injury. While living across the Irish Sea, the player has also had to continue working through the ongoing pandemic.

“I’m working at Bombardier which is a company that builds aircrafts,” said Garner. “Just working in the warehouse there, helping to build aircrafts. They’re A220’s, the Canadian airlines. I enjoy aviation, I think it’s really interesting.”

When asked about the precautions she has to take whilst working, she said: “We just have to wash our hands a little bit more and keep social distancing.

“We’ve been given extra hand sanitizers. It’s just the case of just being sensible. I’m pretty lucky in the fact that my routine has remained the same, I’m still going to work, I can still exercise. Alll I keep telling myself each day is that we are one step closer to things getting back to normal.”

Garner also reflected on life over in Northern Ireland saying: “I’m enjoying it. It’s certainly different from what I was doing before. I needed a change, it has been good for me. I’m just focusing on working and getting back from my injury which are my two main priorities at this moment. But I’m not trying to think too far ahead.

“I’m based in the capital, in Belfast. It’s only over the water so once the planes are back flying, I’m an hour away. It’s a different lifestyle, everything is a lot more laid back here."

When asked about her recovery the player said: “So far so good, touch wood. I started running properly six weeks ago. I’m trying to build my fitness back up. At the moment it’s going alright, I do get the odd niggle here and there but as long as I look after it I should be okay.

“It’s a long process. I did it back in September/October last year and I’ve just recently started running so it’s been long and tough. It’s been good for me to have a focus as well, working on getting back fit.

“I’m not thinking about playing just yet, I need to get my fitness back up and make sure that my knee is fit enough to run let alone take a tackle. It’s baby steps but we’re getting there one day at a time.”

Despite being set back by the injury, the player is in close contact with the coaching team regarding her rehabilitation.

“I’ve been speaking with Lindsay (head coach) and Jo (physio),” said Garner. “Basically, I’m doing a build up over nine weeks to be able to do 5k, eventually. I’m focusing on running and getting a baseline fitness before starting to incorporate any weights or any intensive training that the girls are doing. I’ve got my own rehab programme going with exercised that I’ve been given by Jo.”

It is unknown when exactly the 2020 campaign will get underway however, we will update fans via our social media channels when there is more information available.

Castleford Tigers Women would like to give a big shoutout to all the main shirt sponsors: Hillside Childcare, GMB Union, Tracked Spider Solutions, Yorkshire Flight Simulator, Anthony Higgins Transport, Castle Commercial Cleaning Limited, B&J Goulding, Marra Falcons, Pizza Prima, SB Paving, D&M Family Butchers and the Wakefield Council.