Victoria Louise “Vicky” Fleetwood is a rugby union player and personal trainer. She represented England at the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Vicky played the majority of her early career at Hooker, but is equally as comfortable in the back-row. Career highlights to date, include winning the Rugby World Cup in 2014, a bronze medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as multiple 6 Nations and Tyrell’s Premier 15s Championships.
A level 3 personal trainer, Vicky has worked in some of the best gyms in London. Widely regarded as one of the fittest players around, her wealth of experience as an international athlete allows her to bring the same intensity to sessions with her clients. Rugby commitments sometimes mean that F2F services can be a challenge, but Vicky also offers online sessions alongside bespoke programming for clients.
Fleetwood made her England debut in 2011. She made six appearances in the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup, which England won. In 2017 she made three appearances for England at the Women’s Rugby World Cup, including in the final which England lost to New Zealand. After the 2017 World Cup, she switched to England 7s, competing for England in the 2018 Commonwealth Games; the team took the bronze medal.
She returned to 15s in 2019 as England won the 2019 Women’s Six Nations. She was injured out of the 2019 Women’s Rugby Super Series, but was named Player of the Match in the Quilter International match versus Italy later that year. Fleetwood was again part of the England team as they won the 2020 Women’s Six Nations.
Aged 14, Fleetwood began playing for Leicester Forest. She joined Lichfield aged 17 as part of the Under 18s squad, and later graduated to the senior’s team. She continued to play for Lichfield while attending university with teammate Emily Scarratt. She joined Saracens Women in 2014, then rejoined the team in 2020. Born in Hinckley in 1990, Fleetwood has a twin brother named Andrew. She was a junior hurdler and sprinter before switching to rugby.
She attended John Cleveland College and then Leeds Metropolitan University. Alongside rugby, Fleetwood is a successful personal trainer. In 2017 she appeared on the cover of Stylist magazine as part of a feature on the England Women’s Rugby team.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Vicky Fleetwood, an exceptionally talented International Rugby Player, Fitness Personality and Motivational Speaker, here she talks about her fitness regime, and her story to success.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Hinckley in England. You have been playing was a junior hurdler and sprinter before switching to rugby since an early age. You were a junior hurdler and sprinter before switching to rugby. Later at the age of 14 years, you began playing for Leicester Forest. You joined Lichfield at age of 17 years as part of the Under 18s squad, and later graduated to the seniors team. This later propelled your career to the height where you have been at the top of the world as a women rugby player. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I wasn’t a naturally fit athlete. Coming from sprinting for years, anything further than a few hundred meters was hard work, so that was something I really dialed into when reaching the senior Women’s team. I never wanted to be bad at anything, so that was my biggest driver, not necessarily to be the best, but to not be the worst!
Namita Nayyar:
It is a dream for a rugby player to play in the Women’s Rugby World Cup. You made six appearances in the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup, which England won. Tell us more about this spectacular achievement of yours?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I was so lucky to experience this, and will be forever grateful. With sport, you’re always up against other athletes, staying fit and being at the top of your game. This isn’t always the case and you end up missing out on so many things throughout your career. Winning the World Cup was truly amazing, and something I’ll always be proud of.
Namita Nayyar:
You are the world-leading International Rugby Player, Fitness Personality and Motivational Speaker. How do you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I’m now retired from rugby, but am still in the game coaching. I try to stay fit and healthy, and am now a keen cross fitter. The motivational speaking comes from experiences that I’ve had, and things I’ve learnt along the way that I can then educate others with.
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Vicky Fleetwood:
As previously mentioned, I’m now doing CrossFit. This type of training includes a mixture of strength training, conditioning and gymnastics so there are always lots to learn!
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Vicky Fleetwood:
I don’t do much to specifically ’train my abs’. Diet is the main thing for abs to show, and lots of exercises within CrossFit will work your abs without doing exercises that specially target them.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I have never followed a specific diet or tracked calories, it’s all about balance. I’m just lucky that I enjoy what are seen as ‘healthy foods’.
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you absolutely love and five you keep to a minimum.
Vicky Fleetwood:
Foods I love- Salmon, avocado, broccoli, eggs, steak. Foods I keep to minimum- takeaways.
Namita Nayyar:
A level 3 personal trainer, you have worked in some of the best gyms in London. Elaborate about this aspect of your career, about the online fitness sessions alongside bespoke programming that you offer to your clients.
Vicky Fleetwood:
I have been fortunate enough to work at some great gyms. When I first came to London, I worked at The Third Space in Soho, and absolutely loved it. The only reason I left, was because I was offered a full time rugby contract. The online fitness sessions that I offered were during lockdown, and they were a lot of fun! I think we all tuned into our health and wellbeing a lot more during this time. I still have a couple of clients online, but the majority now is in person. It is always really important to me to make sure that the programming is progressive and individualized as everyone has different goals, injuries etc.
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Vicky Fleetwood:
Hybryd, Lulu Lemon, Sweaty Betty, Puma and My Protein.
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list.
Vicky Fleetwood:
I’m going to Sri Lanka on my honeymoon and can’t wait. I’m lucky to have been to lots of different places and travelled a lot, but would love to see more of Asia.
Namita Nayyar:
You must have a Coach who has been a catalyst who helped you pave the way to rise in your career with discipline and a never stopping attitude. Elaborate about his/her influence on your professional life?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I can’t pin it down to one coach. I think all coaches help you in a range of different ways. Some will increase your confidence and truly believe in you, others will push you by finding particular drivers for you. A lot however has to come from within. Of course I’m not always motivated, I’m just dedicated to improving and know that sometimes you have to do it even when you don’t want to.
Namita Nayyar:
During the Covid pandemic. Tell us more about a routine to remain fit in those challenging times?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I was lucky that I had a lot of equipment at home. I also took classes which I joined in with. I was probably the fittest I’ve ever been!
Namita Nayyar:
After the 2017 World Cup, you switched to England 7s, competing for England in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, when the team took the bronze medal. Tell us more about this landmark achievement in your Rugby career?
Vicky Fleetwood:
I loved 7s and the effort you had to put into training. Everyone was working hard day in, day out and it was a lot fun as well as very testing on the emotions!
Namita Nayyar:
You were named Player of the Match in the Quilter International match versus Italy in 2019. How does such honor being bestowed upon you act as a catalyst in your metriotic rise as a world leading Rugby Player?
Vicky Fleetwood:
Being named player of the match is always lovely, especially in an England shirt.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and the message for its visitors?
Vicky Fleetwood:
It’s great to have a space dedicated to women as we have different needs in our training compared to men.
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding Rugby Playing girls, who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of playing Rugby?
Vicky Fleetwood:
The biggest part is enjoyment. Find enjoyment in improving yourself, and enjoy being around other like-minded people.
Namita Nayyar:
You have an impressive Instagram following of 52.6k followers. A message for your ardent admirers.
Vicky Fleetwood:
I think many of my followers probably feel like they know me a little bit. I like to try and show my interests and what I’m up to! But thanks for coming for the ride with me!
Namita Nayyar:
You were injured in the 2019 Women’s Rugby Super Series. In sports like Rugby how were you able to overcome any physical or sports injury setbacks and what advice can you give to those in a similar situation?
Vicky Fleetwood:
It’s about finding what you can do during that time, and staying focused on your goals despite the setback. In a contact sport, this is common, and rather than dwelling on being injured, it’s about how to move forward.
Namita Nayyar:
Quote you live by.
Vicky Fleetwood:
Believe you can and you’re half way there.
Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about a day in the life of ‘Vicky Fleetwood’.
Vicky Fleetwood:
Every day is so different for me and that’s what I like. I coach a number of different teams, do personal training and am also the director of rugby at my local club. I then train where I can around this.
Vicky Fleetwood Social Media Presence
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vickyfleetwood_/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness