The invitation requesting the presence of England’s newest No.8 will arrive in due course for a landmark occasion, 70 years since the foundation of a teacher-training college in Cardiff where the assembly line remains in full production at the same campus suitably perched on the capital’s highest ground.
At Cardiff Met, they love ‘Dommers’ as one of their own for a whole host of reasons, almost every single one reflecting the devotion to their cause of ‘this big teddy bear of a bloke’ with an unhealthy appetite for cream cakes.
The love is mutual, its survival extending beyond the grim acceptance during three student years that he could not always have his cake and eat it. It has also been reinforced rather than diluted at his having to endure more than his share of pain and suffering.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Cardiff Met,’’ he says. “Their whole rugby programme, their professionalism, quality of coaching, nutritional advice – everything was first-class. You had all the tools at your disposal to be the best player you could be.
“To be perfectly honest, I went to the university with the ambition to get my degree and play some rugby and cricket. At that point, I’d never played much competitive rugby. It was all just for fun.
“I never really had an ambition to play rugby professionally. I’m a big cricket fan but I found out soon enough that to play cricket as well as rugby and do justice to both simply wasn’t going to be possible.’’
The conversion of Dombrandt from overweight student into a Premiership tour de force began on a late summer’s day six years ago in Taunton where he put in a late appearance off the bench against the local Titans in a pre-season friendly.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 18, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 18, 2021 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.