However, the two often came as a consequence of the other, and I was lucky enough to be in sides that played good expansive rugby who also enjoyed a fair degree of success in terms of winning silverware and promotions.
I was coached at Newark RUFC by no less than Dusty Hare. Having started playing as a five-year-old at my hometown club, Boston, I’d moved across to Newark because they were the best team in the area and I was showing some promise. Dusty’s son was in the same age-group as me, which is how it all came about. Dusty’s a really nice bloke and we got on well and he actually came to see me play and talked to me a few times when he was scouting for Northampton and I was in the Championship with Doncaster.
Whilst I was at school, Hartpury College offered me a place but I deferred my first year to go to New Zealand on a gap year and did a season of club rugby out there first, on the South Island at Riwaka Rugby Club, near Nelson. It’s where James Lowe is from, he was there when I was there. He loved a good time and was definitely one of the standouts. Rugby in New Zealand was different gravy. I was like, ‘what is going on here?’. Their love of rugby is wild. Within our whole league the furthest club away from us was 20 minutes, there were clubs everywhere. You’d have All Blacks dropping down to play a game of club rugby every now and again. In one game Chris Jack was in the opposition line up. I came back when my money ran out because I didn’t fancy the job someone had found for me – picking fruit in an orchard.
Denne historien er fra April 09, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 09, 2023-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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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.
