Sinead Peach: "I can’t wait to walk out with my son"
- sharonshortle
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
After being named Woman of Steel in 2023 and leading the side to a first ever Grand Final win, followed by an England appearance, a big season was expected for York Valkyrie captain, Sinead Peach in 2024.
One year on, and after a season out of the game, she’s returned to the squad as a new mum and is raring to go in 2025!
“It feels amazing!” she says about preparations for her comeback. “It was so good to be back with the girls before Christmas, but now to be fully back with them and at the training sessions, it’s great.”
After announcing her pregnancy, Peach said immediately that she planned to get back to playing as soon as she could. As time went by, that plan never changed.
“Absolutely not! As soon as I found out, me and (head coach) Lindsay were planning what training I could do leading up to it and how soon I could get back!
“I know it’s going to be a Challenge and it will be baby steps, but I did do training while I was pregnant and I’ve started to get back into it.
“Did you see me running on the pitch at the Grand Final? I was trying to get them going! But I was doing the running and bits on the bike, just ticking over really. But I wasn’t doing much with weights so I need to get my strength back.
“I feel really good. Obviously when you start in the gym and you’re not where you used to be, it is a bit deflating. But I’ve got to remember, I’ve just had a baby and I’m using him as my motivation. I’ve got a really supportive family so they’ll be helping me get back to where I was.”
With son, Carter, born at the end of October, Peach says her focus and drive has taken on another dimension.
“I can’t wait to walk out with my son. I’ve dreamt of that day since finding out I was pregnant so I think that will be a really special moment. And being named captain of the squad again this year I’m super excited to get back with the girls and hopefully kick it off again this year.”
Despite not being able to play last season, Peach was still very much part of the scene as the Valkyrie went on to retain the Women’s Super League Grand Final trophy.
She says being able to stay around the team and be in the rugby environment meant a lot.
“It was really good. It did my mentality good as well.
“I said to Lindsay I’d still be at all the sessions, and I was, and to help as much as I can.
That’s why I was running on the pitch, because I wanted to give a little input and still be there for them if they needed a little Sinead team talk or whatever I used to do!
“I just wanted to be there to support them so Lindsay kept me involved as much as possible and I really appreciated that. That helped massively.”
Not being the first player to return to play for the Valkyrie after having a baby has also given Peach an extra level of support, with Kelsey Gentles, Georgie Dagger and Ash Hyde all going down that path.
“It’s massive,” she says. “All leading through my pregnancy, they were checking in all the time. But Kelsey is my best friend and she’s been with me every step of the way, giving me all the tips and advice - not to put pressure on myself and it’ll come when it comes and I will get back to where I was, but it’s a process.
“I’m phoning her every day! I’m at the gym, telling her what I’m doing and she’s advising me, so I’m taking tips from her for sure!"
With the support around her, the target for her return to the pitch was clear.
“I wanted to be back for the first game of the season! I know it will be six months since I gave birth so I was hoping that was the right time, but I’ve been aiming for that.”
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