NEAL Hatley has been a hugely significant influence on me for the best part of ten years, so it was quite amusing, to both of us, that we found ourselves in opposite camps this weekend with London Irish playing Bath.
Hats has just been promoted to head coach at Bath and, with Skivs (George Skivington) leaving for Gloucester, I’ve taken on the forwards coach job at Irish on an interim basis. Hats was my academy manager at London Irish in my first year out of school and he was very clear on what was required to make it in the game. We speak a lot and he has been a phenomenal resource for me as a coach.
Alex Corbisiero was part of that special group and he’s been my best friend in rugby ever since, including being best man at my wedding. But it has to be said we didn’t get off to the best of starts. We shared a room together during the U19 World Cup in Belfast and he accidently trapped my finger in a drawer. I wasn’t best pleased. He refused to apologise so I tried to assert my dominance but he completely man-handled me and that probably set the tone for our relationship.
We shared a house with Tommy Homer and we’d push each other on to a point where, on reflection, it was a bit excessive with all the extras we’d do. We’d work ourselves into a frenzy before first team training sessions to try and make our mark. Unfortunately Corbs and I both had playing careers riddled with injuries and perhaps that played a part.
Denne historien er fra August 16, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra August 16, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
