A lot of the lads were already in academies, whereas that route had bypassed me and I’d been playing social rugby with my mates at Dorking. I had a lot of growth and a lot of catching up to do. Financially, though, I was probably better off than my peers at that stage as I was getting 40p/mile for travelling around the M25 to training and back, which added up to more than what the contracted academy lads were on!
Saracens’ motto was we’ll treat you unbelievably well but you have to work unbelievably hard in exchange. If you weren’t up for that, you were quickly spat out. Them forward committing in that way clearly worked when you look at what you look back at the trophies we went on to win. It wasn’t just the big team bonding trips to Munich etc., where they looked after you, but the smaller detail stuff as well. For instance, the club paid for me to go through university and were superb in managing my schedule around studying and training.
Being treated that way and being in a squad pushing for silverware never made me want to go anywhere else to be honest, not at least until I turned 30 and wanted to use rugby as a means to travel, which I did by going to Japan in 2020. I had had some interest from other clubs along the way but I was happy to be involved with a club that, step-by-step, went on to dominate English and European rugby.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 17, 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 November 17, 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
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McGoverne says playing for Chiefs is her priority
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YOUNG GUNS
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The Cherry & Whites lay down marker over Lucs
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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
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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.
