Ollie Lawrence is one of the most powerful and explosive midfield ball carriers in the English game today. Having recently taken delivery of his new Mammoth HealthPRO® mattress, we caught up with Ollie to find out how important rest and recovery is for an elite rugby player.
Take a look at any of the behind the scenes footage of a Premiership or national rugby squad and the first thing you realise is how much preparation, care and an army of support staff it takes to get a team of professional athletes out on the pitch, fit and firing each weekend.
As a seasoned international, Ollie Lawrence has honed his own recovery and health protocols over the years. From soft tissue work to hydrotherapy to a carefully managed diet, he says that he’s become diligent with his protocols as his career has progressed:
“I take recovery as an individual responsibility. We get guidance from club and country but I try to add personalised treatment that’s tailored to my age and past injuries so I can stay in my best shape.”
Above all, though, Ollie states that sleep is the foundation for all the work he does to support health and fitness:
“I’ve always loved my sleep and it’s one of my highest priorities for performance. I like to get 8.5 – 9 hours a night whenever possible and I’ve developed a fairly good routine for ensuring that I hit that target every night.
“Over the years I’ve added in aids such as blue light glasses before bed and red light therapy to help me fall asleep. I like to track the quality of my recovery using a Whoop strap and I always keep the bedroom cool and as dark as possible. But the most important thing is obviously the mattress itself, which is why I’ve had two Mammoths over the last few years.
“I bought my first Mammoth back when I played for Worcester and, more recently in my new house I felt it was time to get a superking bed and mattress. I chose the HealthPRO® Elite model because it features a slightly softer feel, which suits me as a side sleeper.”
Asked about how he handles the change in environment that comes with touring or staying at England’s base at Pennyhill Park, Ollie says,
“Having a good room-mate who understands what you need is important. I’ve shared with (England Fly Half) Marcus Smith for the last three years now and we’ve become pretty good at working around each other’s habits.
“I also like to take a pillow from home wherever I go, so that I’ve always got something that’s consistent with my home environment.”
Ollie selected his Mammoth HealthPRO®Elite mattress from Bensons for Beds in Brislington.