I was happy to fulfil my boyhood dream
The Rugby Paper|July 16, 2023
GROWING up, all I wanted to do was play professional sport, whether it was rugby, football or cricket. Football was probably my first choice and I think rugby was probably my last option. But my parents decided that education was the most important thing and that’s when I went to Oakham for a couple of years and rugby and cricket are the two main sports there. Ian ‘Dosser’ Smith was coach. He never screamed or shouted but how he spoke to you sent shivers down your spine. I’ve never met anyone before or since who is better at psyching a team up. We won the Daily Mail Cup in my last year and I scored the first try with a little chip-and-chase. I’d say that is one of the top three highlights of my rugby career. You can’t beat winning stuff with your mates, especially at Twickenham.
Jon Newcombe
I was happy to fulfil my boyhood dream

Other than going to Cornwall on holiday once a year as a kid, I didn’t have any connection to the county but that is where my professional journey started. I’d played England Counties that summer under Harvey Biljon, the Pirates backs coach, and there were rumours about him going to Bristol, so when he rang me and said, ‘do you want an opportunity?’, I was mad keen at first but then he told me it was down in Cornwall. I hesitated because I was quite well set playing Minor Counties cricket with Lincolnshire and semi-pro rugby and initially they only offered me a one-year contract. But I said if I am going to go all the way down there I wanted a two-year contract. They agreed and I gave it a go. I was 25 when the season actually started so I was quite old to begin my pro rugby career but I thought even if I only had two years at it, at least I’d tried.

I loved it down there. We had a three-year plan to get into the Premiership but I think we peaked a season too soon. Our squad was ridiculously good. I think you could have made a whole team up of players who ended up signing for clubs in the Premiership. Dave Ward is probably one of the best players I’ve ever played with and is such a legend. He never tackled, he’d just go for the ball and try and rip it, and nine times out of 10, it would work. Look at Blair Cowan, he ended up playing for Scotland, we had Gav Cattle and Paves (Alan Paver) who are coaching the Pirates now and Jonny Bentley, who joined me at Gloucester, was one hell of a player at 10. The Championship Dream XV was stacked full of Pirates players in the two years we reached the Championship final and it was a nice feeling to be named in it twice.

Denne historien er fra July 16, 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.

Denne historien er fra July 16, 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.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE RUGBY PAPERSe alt
England can find a little bit of cheer
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
The Rugby Paper

Stop messing with Marcus - Campese

DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
The Rugby Paper

Forwards pack a punch for the Reds

OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 24, 2024