SCORING for Scotland with my first touch of the ball after getting the better of Simon Geoghegan and then setting up Tony Stanger for a try was a real Roy of the Rovers start to my Test career. We beat Ireland 15-3, and I started all four games in the 1993 Five Nations. Sport, and life in general, is often about being in the right place at the right time, and luckily for me I took my opportunity whereas for Simon, a great player, that one below-par performance probably cost him a place on the Lions tour.
Sometimes, obviously things went against you rather than for you. For instance, a few years earlier, when I was playing club rugby for Kilmarnock, I got picked for the Scotland trial, in the blue team, but I had a poor game against Iwan Tukalo, and Tony Stanger got in for the Five Nations. I lost a bit of confidence and decided to take a year out. That was the '90 Grand Slam season so it was a big one to miss. That still niggles me if I'm honest.
For a while I thought I'd give athletics a proper go as I could run 10.6 seconds for the 100 metres, which earned me the title as 'the fastest man in rugby'. I was running for Dundee Hawkhill in the British League, I think it was down in Luton or somewhere like that, and it dawned on me then that I was quick but not that quick. There were guys of Caribbean descent running 10.3 seconds, which may not sound like a big difference but in sprinting terms, it was a chasm. Anyway, as a sociable person I felt I was much better suited to rugby.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 07, 2024 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.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 07, 2024 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
Sleightholme shows he has pace to burn
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McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
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Trinity aim to get the culture right
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YOUNG GUNS
Louie Gulley experienced the environment of England U20s’ World Championship triumph up close this summerand now has a burning desire to become an age-grade star. The 19-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker was part of Mark Mapletoft’s squad but didn’t manage to make an appearance during the tournament.
The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
CAMBORNE maintained their lead at the top of the table with a bonus-point win against their nearest challengers in a pulsating game.
A brace from Botterill is key to victory for Esher
A highly entertaining and enthralling contest between two sides fighting at the foot of the table was eventually won by Esher after the lead had changed no less than seven times throughout an absorbing afternoon.
Chiefs in hunt for new investment
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McParland keen to shine for England A
NORTHAMPTON scrum-half Archie McParland feels he has returned a better player following a nasty injury that denied him a World Cup winners medal and is now ready to fly into a new opportunity with England A.
Undercard get chance to show their A-game
ENGLAND’S A team today get their first major work-out after being resurrected earlier this year when Australia’s undercard provide the opposition at The Stoop.
England look like a clueless rabble
I WATCHED with a growing sense of bewilderment as England yet again took to the field against Australia looking to all intents and purpose as if they had just been introduced to each other on the coach into Twickenham.
