How cookies and saunas have helped England's Danny Care enjoy longevity in international career

Danny Care has revealed the unconventional secret behind his career longevity as he closes in on becoming England’s sixth Test centurion – cookies and saunas.
By YP Sport
Published 21st Feb 2024, 19:06 BST

Leeds-born Care will make his 99th international appearance in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland and even at 37-years-old the high-tempo Harlequins scrum-half is in the form of his life.

On top of showing the persistence needed to emerge from a three-and-a-half-year spell in England exile, he has taken his own approach to making sure he can perform at the highest level. And unlike former Red Rose team-mate Jonny May, who is famed for his dedication to training and preparation, Care takes a more unorthodox route.

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“I’m definitely not like Jonny May! I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum to Jonny May. More cookies. Cookies and saunas. And why not if it works? Everyone is so different,” Care said.

LONG-LASTING: Danny Care, pictured during last year's World Cup with Jamie George. Picture: David Rogers/Getty ImagesLONG-LASTING: Danny Care, pictured during last year's World Cup with Jamie George. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images
LONG-LASTING: Danny Care, pictured during last year's World Cup with Jamie George. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images

“I’ve always been quite lucky in that I’ve not been massively into nutrition or believe fully in it, which the nutritionists hate me for!

“I don’t think I’ve cracked it, but I’m 37 and I like to think I’ve shown an alternative way of doing it.

“I’ve definitely put a bigger emphasis on my recovery in the last few years but I feel better now than I did four or five years ago. The team hotel is also an amazing five-star spa, which helps.

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“The sauna and the ice bath are our best friends. It’s amazing when you’ve got that on your doorstep and have the time to do it. When I’m at home I can’t just nip out for a couple of hours to ‘recover’, my wife would… well, she wouldn’t be my wife any more!

STICKING AROUND: England's Danny Care and George Furbank during a training session at Bagshot earlier this week. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.STICKING AROUND: England's Danny Care and George Furbank during a training session at Bagshot earlier this week. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
STICKING AROUND: England's Danny Care and George Furbank during a training session at Bagshot earlier this week. Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire.

“But when you’re here and you’ve got the best S&C guys, nutritionists, everyone and it’s all for you. You can be selfish in that way and that helps me a lot.”

Care refuses to put a timeframe on his retirement but knows this will almost certainly be his final visit to Murrayfield and is hoping to have clarity on his club future after the Six Nations.

“I feel more liberated, I feel more free, I feel like I can just enjoy it. You never know which one is going to be the last one so in a way that gives me freedom to just be myself and really enjoy it,” Care said.

Related topics:EnglandSix NationsScotlandLeeds