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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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.
