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.
この記事は The Rugby Paper の July 18, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Rugby Paper の July 18, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
