Consistency, Competition and Recovery with Scotland Rugby’s Caity Mattinson

Five weeks into a gruelling pre-season, Scotland scrum-half Caity Mattinson is exactly where she wants to be. Tired, competitive, and surrounded by teammates doing everything they can to push the standard. “It’s been really physically demanding,” she says. “The group is super competitive, and we’ve really challenged each other to sharpen the Claymore.” 

From on-pitch skills and conditioning to gym sessions and contact-heavy rugby, the team is building intensity ahead of a busy tournament window. But with so much volume across the day, recovery has become just as important as the sessions themselves. 

Recovering with intent 

“We’ve put even more emphasis on our recovery strategies this pre-season,” explains Caity. “We’ve been using Hytro to maximise different methods and get ourselves back to baseline as quickly as possible. It’s made a big difference.” 

Whether it’s a bike flush, contrast session, or ice bath, recovery isn’t just encouraged – it’s gamified. Players compete for points by choosing gold-standard methods, with Hytro featuring heavily in the mix. “Today I went for a contrast ice and hot bath using Hytro,” she says. “You can really feel the flushing effect when you unstrap. Other girls did a bike flush with Hytro – it depends on what Josie’s pushed for that day.” 

The system is working. Between recovery blocks, players are hitting tough afternoon sessions with fresh legs and sharper minds. “At lunchtime, we get the Hytros on to reset before we go again,” Caity adds. “That’s been a big focus this year – finding those small margins that add up.” 

Inside a typical day at Scottish Gas Murrayfield 

A day in camp starts early. After arriving at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, players complete monitoring and screening so the Strength and Conditioning and medical staff can assess readiness to train. From there, it’s into rugby meetings, followed by a backline unit session and full squad training on the pitch. 

“It’s still pre-season, so the running load is pretty heavy,” says Caity. “When we get back in, the first thing we do is get the Hytros on before heading up for lunch. That’s our window to recover before meetings and the next block of training.” 

For the backs, afternoons often feature specialist skills like kicking, followed by a gym session with the team. Caity lights up when talking about this part of the day. “The gym definitely has a more relaxed and competitive feel. It’s fun – we’re all in it together, cheering each other on. Josie makes sure we’re still pushing the standard, though.” 

After gym, it’s back into recovery before heading to the hotel for dinner and rest. 

Tapering the mind, not just the body 

As Scotland edge closer to tournament competition, the focus shifts from physical output to preparation and readiness. Mentally, Caity tries to approach every game the same way. 

“For me, there’s not a huge difference between a test match and tournament rugby. The challenge with tournaments is staying focused on the game in front of you, rather than thinking ahead. If you treat each match like a test and prepare the best you can, that’s the best way to manage it.” 

With the work from pre-season already banked, recovery becomes the priority between games. Hytro will play a central role in helping the squad stay ready, both physically and mentally. 

Outperforming the standard 

Whether she’s laying the foundations in pre-season or sharpening up between matches, Caity is clear on what it takes to perform at the top level: hard work, sharp detail, constant competition, and smart recovery. 

“Right now, I’m loving both sides of training – the gym and the pitch,” she says. “This time of year is all about working hard and seeing how much you can improve.” 

In this environment, recovery isn’t a luxury. It’s the secret to turning up every day with intensity and intent. For Caity and the Scotland squad, it’s how they stay built to outperform. 

Smarter recovery, stronger performance. Discover Hytro for your team.