Rugby stars dive into Fly fishing: a shared passion beyond the pitch

As the Six Nations Rugby reaches its thrilling climax on Super Saturday, Fieldsports Journal teams up with Farlows to celebrate another beloved British tradition: fly fishing. Just as rugby unites passion, skill and heritage, fly fishing embodies patience, technique and a deep connection to nature. 

Whilst the debates rage on about what truly constitutes a sport, fly fishing has long found itself in the grey area between athleticism and skill-based recreation. Yet, its growing popularity among elite athletes, particularly rugby players, is shedding new light on the sport’s physical, mental and strategic allure.

Three renowned rugby stars, all avid fly fishers, have stepped forward to share their passion for the sport:

• Jamie Noon (45): Former England centre (2001–2009) and Six Nations legend with a hat-trick against Scotland in 2005.
• Adam Radwan (26): Leicester Tigers winger and England hat-trick hero at Twickenham in 2021.
• Josh Hodge (24): Exeter Chiefs full-back and England U20 top scorer at the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship.

These players, known for their fierce determination on the rugby field, explain how fly fishing offers them a unique blend of challenge, relaxation and mental focus.

How did you get into fly fishing?

Jamie: I got into fly fishing through a friend of a friend who started taking me with him to some local lakes around Newcastle. I had done some fishing before but up until then it was mainly coarse fishing and sea fishing. Fly fishing was totally different and so much more technical, but I enjoyed it straight away.

Josh: Fishing has been a part of my life for a long time. Back at the family home where I grew up we have a stretch of the River Wenning.  From a young age I’d find myself out fishing with my mother and father with nets until I moved onto fly fishing at the age of 10-11. I did all sorts of fishing with nets/floats and lures but fly fishing has always been the most interesting.

Adam: Growing up I spent most weekends with my Grandad and depending on the time of year, it was always either fishing or shooting. He was a very keen fisherman and taught me to fish when I was around 4 years old. Since then I’ve been hooked trying my hand at all different types of fishing. Over the years I have definitely come to the conclusion that fly fishing is my absolute favourite, and regardless of what I’m fishing for if it can be caught fly fishing then I will give it a go.

What is it about fly fishing that you love?

Jamie: I have now moved away from lake and reservoir fishing and have been really enjoying river fishing. Fly fishing for me is about escaping the noise of life and getting back to nature. I love the outdoors and the quiet that it offers, enabling me to fully relax and destress.

Josh: Personally I think fly fishing is the hardest of them all. There are so many challenges that you face while trying to catch a fish with a fly. Variations of cast, weather, fly, lines and of course the river. There is never an obvious option so it always keeps you very focused. The challenge is what keeps me going back to the water and there are many good rivers in the UK.  It takes you to some of the most scenic places that you probably never thought of visiting or even knew about.

Adam: Fly fishing is active and visual, it’s not just a case of chucking a bait out and waiting for a fish to take it. You’re constantly looking for fish moving and or pulling various flies trying to tempt a fish into taking it. It’s also a constant puzzle trying to work out which fly will work, there are so many variables to think about. One day a certain fly will be all the fish want and the next time you use it they won’t even look at it. Also, typically whenever I’m fly fishing it’s in a lovely setting, so even if you can’t tempt a fish to take your fly you still usually see some pretty impressive wildlife.

What advice would you give someone thinking about trying fly fishing?

Jamie: Everybody has to find their own path in life and this is also true for fishing and that’s also part of the fun. I’d suggest as with any skill acquisition, practice is crucial and time on the water fishing as much as you can is hugely beneficial especially to beginners. Try to practise all types of casting such as the catapult cast because those crafty fish will be in the most difficult of lies and you will need to learn different ways to present your fly drag free to give you the best chance to catch them.

Josh: My advice for someone starting their fly fishing journey would be to get proficient at casting. There are
different variations of cast in the fly world and each one has its benefits. When fishing rivers you tend to find
yourself in places with a lot of trees/bushes around you. So having multiple ways you can cast without
causing too much disturbance is key. Many times I have found myself tangled up in trees wasting valuable
fishing time!

Adam: My best bit of advice would be DO IT! There is so much more to it than you’d imagine, it’s a great way to relax and unwind from the stress of work. It takes you all over the country and indeed the world, and most of which are breathtaking places to spend the day.

What misconceptions are there about fly fishing?

Jamie: It’s perceived as a sport for the wealthy and you have to spend lots of money to get into it. There’s lots of deals to be had on fly fishing gear and the second hand market is a great place to start looking. There are some good day ticket schemes in the UK and free fishing with a licence here in France.

Josh: Personally before I got into fly fishing I always believed it was a very difficult form of fishing, and picking up all the tips and tricks to make it easier and more enjoyable was hard going. I found that as I started to meet more fly fishermen and gathered more equipment/tackle I gained more knowledge and now I feel I could go out on the river/sea and do a half decent job. There is just something about putting a plan together and it not working and then coming up with another plan and it working that’s very pleasing, and with fly fishing that can always be the case.

Adam: I’d say the biggest misconception is that fly fishing is old fashioned and boring. For me this couldn’t be further from the truth as I’ve found you can fly fish these days for pretty much every fish, not just the traditional trout or salmon, and the challenge and electric thrill of catching them is absolutely not boring. It’s extremely visual and often you can watch the fish take your fly. It doesn’t matter if you’re fishing a dry fly for trout or stripping a sunray for salmon, there’s something about seeing the fish engulf your fly that really gets the heart pumping.

What do you think could be done to get more people into fly fishing?

Jamie: I think the popularity of fishing is on the rise but we really need to work harder to target the younger
population. Shows like Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse have done wonders to increase fishing popularity
and to make it more mainstream. The fishing and non-fishing population have really got behind the show and
it showcases the benefits that fishing has to offer. I also like to listen to the Fly Culture magazine podcasts
which champion fly fishing and its many benefits. We need to have more exposure to fishing and the joys it
can offer everyone.

Adam: I think the perception of fly fishing is that it’s an old persons sport and it’s really boring. But for me this couldn’t be further from the truth, I think if people were educated more on it or shown that actually that isn’t that case then people would be much more eager to have a go at it. Also important to how accessible it is…you don’t need to spend a fortune on going to big rivers, there’s so many stillwaters as full of fish to have a go at.

Josh: Fly fishing is one of my favourite hobbies. I was very fortunate growing up living next to a river so for me fly fishing was very accessible but for some people it isn’t. I feel that to grow the sport we have to find a way of making it accessible for everyone. Open days where people can go and try fly fishing without diving in
and  purchasing all the equipment. To really grow the sport I feel there needs to be more events so that
people can get eyes on it. Fly fishing needs screen time and promoting.

As an elite sportsman, what is it about fly fishing that appeals to you?

Adam: While it’s active, fly fishing isn’t particularly strenuous, so even after 80 mins of getting beaten up on a rugby pitch it’s still something you can do the day after or during the training week. It’s also a great way to relax or get away from the pressure that is professional sport. When you’re on the river trying to catch a salmon for example that tends to be the only thing you think about and it’s a great way to unwind. As previously mentioned, it takes you to some beautiful parts of the world so it’s hard to have a bad day really.

Jamie: There’s so many things that appeal to me within Fly fishing as an ex sportsman. As I’ve already mentioned, I like to be in nature and the great outdoors because it’s great for health and the mind. It’s a good way to escape the pressures of sport and life’s stresses. I love the complex nature of fly fishing whether that’s the casting, fly choice or just fooling the fish to take a piece of fluff you have tied yourself. I’m not one to worry about numbers of fish caught or lengths and weights, maybe because my kids prod fun at the sardine sized fish I catch. One element that fly fishing offers is its social interaction. I’ve been lucky to have days fishing with lots of different people and some of whom have become great close friends. It has helped me feel more
settled in France since arriving here and is a great talking point.

Josh: The challenge. Being a sportsman you tend to come up against a lot of challenges and overcoming those challenges is what keeps me focused. I find that fly fishing is the same in some contexts, for instance, flies. Having the correct fly on the end of your line is very important and can make fly fishing much easier.  Also taking into consideration the weather and water colour helps. But all the little obstacles that you come across in fly fishing makes you think that little harder and it enables me to be focused on the job at hand.