"On the leash" - Tom Curry: England back row explains why he has to be held back in training

Curry's injury issues are by no means classified, as the back row was almost forced to hang up his boots after being diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome last year. The condition caused the Sale man great pain around his hip joint, as the moving ball in the socket is not entirely rounded, and ground against the bone of the back rower.

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Due to the severity of the injury, Curry now has a modified training week to keep him ready for the upcoming Test match. The Sale man explained how it has taken quite a lot of work, but he has come to accept how he needs to reel in the intensity throughout the week, in order to be ready for action come the day of the England Test.

"Steve (Borthwick), the physios and the medical team, their awareness of when to push and kind of pull you back, I think was a really, really big stepping stone for me. Because chances are, I probably need it, to be back on the leash, really, and they let you off to run around for the weekend. So, it's kind of that analogy."

The 2025 Six Nations have provided Curry with a solid run of in-game minutes thus far, with exception of an early second half exit after picking up a dead leg against Scotland. Curry ran out for 80-minute outings against Ireland and France, and is in-line for another strong performance after being named to start against Italy.

"I've had the preparation to come into a campaign." Curry explained. "Obviously, the Autumn was a bit annoying, because it was stop, start for me (with injuries). New Zealand, the Summer Tour, it was kind of fresh, see where we're at, sort of thing. So this has kind of been the first one, this isn't making an excuse me, but this has been one of the first times we felt like we've had the proper crack at the whip."

Having worked tirelessly to get back to his best with the odds stacked against him, Curry now has an renewed interest in all-things physiology. The Sale man explained how the interest has even breached through his own personal Instagram algorithm, with Curry self-aware enough to know when he's seen enough stretching videos for one day.

"I went through a period and I remember my Instagram wasn’t very fun at all. I had files of stuff for my hip, my calves, my feet. It was meant to be a fun app, and I would go to bed watching physio videos. It’s got to a point now where I know a lot of it is rubbish. You have to go through those bits and bobs. Just listening to your body is the best bit, and you don’t need to squat heavy, that’s a big one.

"Oh no, I like it (Instagram) for dogs and stuff. As soon as your algorithm starts giving you feet videos, not in a weird way! As soon as I see that, I flick off and go back to the dogs."

Another England player who has had an assortment of adaptations to his recent training sessions, is Leicester Tigers lock George Martin. The human battering-ram has long thrown caution to the wind when regarding his own physical well-being, with the toll of the clattering hits starting to add up upon the second row bruiser.

Martin has long had issues with a re-occurring knee injury, and a recent shoulder issue has now written the Tigers man out of the last two Test matches of the 2025 Six Nations. Curry discussed how Martin needs to take his time to find the solution, despite the mental frustration that repeated trips to the rehab room takes upon a player.

"I work very closely with Bob Stewart (RFU Medical Lead) and he (George Martin) works even more closely with Bob Stewart, so it doesn’t need me to say anything to him." Curry explained. "I think he knows. The worst thing, and I’ve been in those situations, is that you try to find one thing that is going to fix it, whether it’s one exercise or whatever. For him, it’ll come."

Whilst there will be no further involvement in the Six Nations for George Martin, Tom Curry is excited to be back in a match day 23 with his twin brother Ben. After the win over Scotland, Ben Curry explained how he benefits with Tom on the pitch, in order to play at his best, with the anecdotes then presented to Tom in this week's pre-match press conference.

Tom Curry expressed how Ben would "no way" have ever verbally conveyed such support to him, as the twin's let their actions speak for themselves. The Curry's will leave it all on the line for one another, be it for Sale at the Salford Community Stadium or with England upon the Test match stage.

"I definitely think we get the best out of each other. Obviously, it changes because, there's different games, so sometimes you might need a taller six, for the line-out and stuff like that. So, I definitely think we get the best out of each other, and whether that has been a help to the team, that is for the coaches to decide."

"It's a feeling. You don't really need to say anything. I think a lot of our relationship is based on feeling in terms of, we don't need to say it. You just do it. You run for each other, you hit for each other. What's the point of saying in a meeting when you don't do on this afternoon?"

"In this England team, I feel like we’ve properly defended for each other. It’s felt like we’ve worked really hard with each other. And that’s not to say that everything has gone right, it’s not. We’ve definitely been too tight at times, but you can’t stat the feeling you get when you come off and go ‘right, we’ve done that for each other.

"I think Scotland got to the edge too many times, which isn’t right. In the same breadth, to know that you are going to hit for each other cannot be faked or replicated. We’ve definitely taken a step in that regard, as far as building a foundation and a mind-set. Tactically, we need to get a bit better. We can still go harder."

England's fourth round match of the 2025 Six Nations commences this Sunday, with Italy vying to make amends after a heavy third round defeat. France pummeled the Italians with an emphatic 73-24 landslide, with Gonzalo Quesada's side out for redemption and a first ever win over England. Whilst England hold a 31-0 all-time record against the Azzurri, Curry knows better than to underestimate the incoming opponents.

"From a back-rower’s perspective, the breakdown is going to be a massive part. They are up there in terms of turn-over statistics and slow ball and stuff. We have to double-down on our own stuff. It’s going to be interesting. (Tommaso) Menoncello has been playing some unbelievable rugby in terms of being the front-runner for their ball-carrying. He’s been brilliant. It’s exciting to see how he goes and face him."

"The scoreline didn’t reflect the game (Italy v France), watching it back. It’s dangerous (that they are coming off such a bad result) but the most dangerous thing is just that they are a very good team. I don’t think that changes because of one scoreline against a French team who can be very dangerous too.

"The one thing we know about the Six Nations is that one game doesn’t necessarily lead into another game. It is constantly changing. It’s such a fast-moving tournament and with a two-week break between games, they can change things very quickly. It’s going to be a huge challenge."

Curry rounded off the pre-match discussion by talking about Jamie George, with the hooker set for his 100th England cap this Sunday. George has also been named to start for the first time in the tournament, with Steve Borthwick bestowing his former England captain with the two jersey for his milestone match.

"That’s a sign of the player he is." Curry said. "It’s not even tactically in meetings, it’s not mind-set, it’s about leveling the team out and making sure the energy is right. He is brilliant for that. The way him and Dickie (Luke Cowan-Dickie) are able to bounce off each other is amazing, in terms of set piece, what they can do and how they help each other. Jamie has been a huge part of my journey, so to see him make 100 caps is a very proud moment."

"He’s been very true to himself and that’s why he’s such a strong character and a go-to guy in terms of that balance the team needs. It’s quite a rare thing in sport. In team sport, you need different personalities and traits. You need people who are always mellow and you need people who are emotionally very turbulent, but you also need people like him who are very level-headed – and also very good at making coffees! He’s been brilliant."

England secured the trophy with a win in Rome, as they handed Italy a one-sided 34-5 bonus point defeat. We are challenging you to remember who started for England that day, as the match was played in front of an empty stadium during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

You have five minutes to provide your answers, good luck!