Spending three months away from work was problematic for some of the players but I was very fortunate. I was working for a subsidiary of Midland Bank, on a graduate trainee scheme, and they very kindly agreed to pay me in full and the only concession was that I used one week of my annual holiday allowance. I thought that was a pretty good deal!
By the time I felt well enough to start training, there had already been a couple of games, so I was always in a race against time to make it for the Test series. I played in eight games and the highlight would be the hat-trick I scored against South West Districts. JJ Williams got six that day, so nine tries came down the same flank. As I got fitter and fitter, I pushed myself too hard and tweaked my hamstring. I thought it would be okay after a week or two but it never really got better, not to the point that I’d be considered for the Test series anyway.
The Lions is the pinnacle, it’s what you dream about growing up. It was obviously disappointing not being involved in the Tests but, by the same token, getting there and being in that environment was still a heck of a thing. For me, the Lions at that time were the closest you’d get to professional rugby with the way that it was managed by Willie John McBride and Syd Millar. We’d be training every day, and it would be taken very seriously, and we’d have the best food available; nothing was too much trouble for us and the players were always put first. I think Fran Cotton had steak every meal – breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
Denne historien er fra July 25, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra July 25, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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.