“I'm super hyped. I think the team's just extremely pumped, especially after [the final training weekend].”
Those are the words of England and Great Britain star Anna Neville ahead of her debut at The World Games in just three days’ time.
Her Great Britain team will take on the hosts and fellow Group A opponents China in Chengdu on Thursday morning and Neville feels it’s a big moment for everyone involved.
“I think we've just got the most incredible opportunity to show the world what we're made of. And especially, we've been training so hard this year […] and I just think we have nothing to lose.”
Neville, speaking to the British Lacrosse Instagram channel, wanted to impress the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and that quite often goes unnoticed and under-appreciated.
“We've been working hard on and off the pitch. Behind the scenes, a lot goes on. We’ve all got full-time jobs and we've been working really cohesively with our Strength & Conditioning team, with our physios and our Head Coach to make sure that we're as ready as we can be.
“Off the pitch, we're sending in sweaty selfies, we're keeping morale high, we're checking on teammates, and it doesn't feel like an individual preparation. I feel like it's very much a team. We're there together.”
Back in October, British Lacrosse sent two teams to North America to compete separately in the Canada Super Sixes tournament and the American Lacrosse Experience, something which Neville believes has been an integral part of the team’s preparations for The World Games.
“It's been an amazing season. I think we've just pushed each other to be the best we can be. We started in October going to Indianapolis - half went to Indianapolis, half went to Canada - and I think that was an amazing opportunity just to know what we needed to bring and what we could bring. And I think we've just learned and grown and grown and grown since then.”
Indeed, at the Canada Super Sixes, Great Britain pulled off a huge coup in defeating the hosts in their own back yard.
“We got to play some really high teams,” Neville said, “and the team that went to Canada played Canada and beat Canada, which was such a moment. And we were so happy for the team. And it just shows the depth within the GB squad. We can go out, put two amazing teams out, and be feisty and fight for every win.”
Neville has been inspired, ahead of The World Games, by some of the people closest to her like her teammates, family, and friends but wanted to single out one specific team who have captivated the nation in recent years.
“We've been watching the Lionesses recently, and their resilience, determination, especially in their game recently against Sweden, they completely turned that around, and to be able to look up to them is incredible, and we're very aware they put in so much time and effort and we want to try to replicate that.”
Neville and Great Britain begin their The World Games campaign at 7:30am (UK) on 7 August in Chengdu against hosts China in Group A.
For more information about the competition, click HERE.