: Lions vs Wallabies
British tennis star Jodie Burrage has been handed a Wimbledon wildcard, but the build-up to her grass-court return has been anything but business as usual.
While her name is among a group of British women awarded main draw spots—alongside Harriet Dart, Heather Watson, Francesca Jones, and teenage talents Mika Stojsavljevic and Hannah Klugman—Burrage has revealed she’s been battling a mental burden few saw coming.
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The 25-year-old has spoken openly about the emotional fallout from partner Ben White’s high-profile omission from Andy Farrell’s Lions squad—a moment that has cast a shadow over both their seasons.
“It has been tough for him the last few weeks with certain decisions. But he’s doing the best he can,” Burrage told
MailOnline.
The Scotland and Toulon scrum-half was widely tipped for inclusion in the 38-man group heading to Australia, but instead had to learn his fate via a live announcement at the O2 Arena—a process Burrage described as brutal.
“It was a horrible day,” she said. “It’s madness how they don’t hear anything. I didn’t realise how it would be. Sat there watching wasn’t the nicest experience.”
Despite White’s dignified response, Burrage admits the experience weighed heavily on her own game, with the emotional toll spilling into her French Open preparations.
“He has done the best he can. He has responded to it better than I probably would. You would hopefully imagine he would be next if anything was to happen.”
“I've actually been practicing well it just hasn't gone on the match court,” she continued. “I've been a bit preoccupied mentally and that's taken more out of me than I thought the last few weeks. My focus hasn't been there and the proper fight.”
When asked directly whether White’s heartbreak had played a part in her distracted mindset, Burrage didn’t dodge it.
“To be honest, yes. He’s dealt with it very well but he’s been different to normal.”
“When you’re in a relationship you’ve got to be there for your other half and he did that a lot for me last year when I spent six months out (an ankle injury forced her out of Roland Garros and Wimbledon last year).”
“So I’ve tried to be there for him the last few weeks, keep him positive and happy and it probably did take more than I thought out of me.”
It’s a rare window into the reality of navigating two elite sports careers in one relationship—and how the emotional rollercoaster of one can derail the other.
“To be fair this was probably the only time anything’s ever distracted me,” she admitted. “It’s a learning experience for me to try and differentiate but at the end of the day it is what it is.”
“Professional sport is so emotional, up and down and when you put two together it’s carnage. But it's good carnage and it’s bad carnage. You've got to take the highs with the lows so he’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. We’re doing fine!”
White is expected to support Burrage in person during her French Open debut against American Danielle Collins, before her full-circle moment back on the Wimbledon lawns later this month.
From heartbreak to hopeful—Burrage is back on British turf with the support of a rugby star by her side and a renewed shot at making her mark.
EDITORS PICKS:
Meet the rugby WAGS of the Scottish Lions ahead of Australia tour
As the Scottish Lions gear up to launch their tour with a thrilling opener against Argentina in Edinburgh this Friday, the spotlight isn’t just on the action between the posts — it’s also on those backing the boys from the sidelines.
From long-standing partners to fresh faces, these Scottish WAGs (wives and girlfriends) bring both style and steadfast support to the squad.
Here’s your guide to the women proudly standing behind the Lions as they prepare to take on the world.
SCOTTISH LIONS RUGBY WAGS:
Nika van der Merwe – Married to the Big Man (Duhan van der Merwe)
Nika and powerhouse wing Duhan van der Merwe tied the knot in sunny South Africa back in January 2023. She turned heads in a chic fitted gown with a thigh-high split, topped off with a glam studded cape — a wedding as bold as Duhan’s sidestep.
Emma Canning – Heptathlete and Super Mum (Finn Russell)
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Emma and magician-in-boots Finn Russell, but the pair are back stronger than ever and now proud parents to two daughters: Charlie and Skye.
Emma knows the pressure of elite sport first-hand — she’s a heptathlete, battling across seven gruelling events. Now she balances it all with family life and Finn’s erratic brilliance.
Annabel Jones – Puppy Love and Ibiza Vibes (Huw Jones)
Huw Jones and Annabel said "I do" in Ibiza back in July 2022 after meeting in Glasgow. Huw’s not afraid to show his romantic side, often calling Annabel his “everything.”
When an injury sidelined him during the 2019 Six Nations, she bought him a fluffy Maltese poodle named Louis — his furry lockdown lifesaver.
Dina Celina – Nutrition Queen and Future Mrs Kinghorn (Blair Kinghorn)
Blair Kinghorn popped the question to nutritionist Dina during a dreamy weekend at Gleneagles in 2023 — wedding bells will ring this August after the tour wraps.
The couple made an appearance in Six Nations: Full Contact on Netflix, with viewers spotting Blair stepping in at fly-half when Finn Russell was sidelined. Dina’s backstage support? Rock solid.
British & Irish Lions 2025 Fixtures
June 20 – Dublin: Lions vs Argentina
June 28 – Perth: Lions vs Western Force
July 2 – Brisbane: Lions vs Queensland Reds
July 5 – Sydney: Lions vs New South Wales Waratahs
July 9 – Canberra: Lions vs ACT Brumbies
July 12 – Adelaide: Lions vs ANZAC XV
July 12 – Brisbane: Lions vs Wallabies
July 22 – Melbourne: Lions vs First Nations and Pasifika XV
July 26 – Melbourne: Lions vs Wallabies
August 2 – Sydney
