A lot of the lads were already in academies, whereas that route had bypassed me and I’d been playing social rugby with my mates at Dorking. I had a lot of growth and a lot of catching up to do. Financially, though, I was probably better off than my peers at that stage as I was getting 40p/mile for travelling around the M25 to training and back, which added up to more than what the contracted academy lads were on!
Saracens’ motto was we’ll treat you unbelievably well but you have to work unbelievably hard in exchange. If you weren’t up for that, you were quickly spat out. Them forward committing in that way clearly worked when you look at what you look back at the trophies we went on to win. It wasn’t just the big team bonding trips to Munich etc., where they looked after you, but the smaller detail stuff as well. For instance, the club paid for me to go through university and were superb in managing my schedule around studying and training.
Being treated that way and being in a squad pushing for silverware never made me want to go anywhere else to be honest, not at least until I turned 30 and wanted to use rugby as a means to travel, which I did by going to Japan in 2020. I had had some interest from other clubs along the way but I was happy to be involved with a club that, step-by-step, went on to dominate English and European rugby.
Denne historien er fra November 17, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra November 17, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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A humble hero who had a big heart ...
A DARK cloud of sorrow has been hovering above St Thomas’ Church at the east end of Swansea this Christmas over the loss of one of its most beloved disciples, Geoff Wheel.
Firefighter Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins
FIREFIGHTER Jade Konkel has ignited a Harlequins title charge following a run of miserable successive seasons for the 2020/21 winners.
Quins finish year at the top of the pile
HARLEQUINS went top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby with victory in Big Game 16 at the Allianz Stadium.
Pirates are on course to make it five in a row
CORNISH Pirates are riding a wave of momentum looking for their fifth consecutive Championship win when they visit strugglers Ampthill today.
Nottingham take their chances to silence Cov
A THRILLING display of high-tempo attacking rugby in which wingers Ryan Olowofela and David Williams played prominent roles earned Nottingham a bonus-point success over Midlands rivals Coventry.
Itoje: Life's taken turn for the better under Borthwick
ENGLAND and Saracens lock Maro Itoje has claimed that the ‘atmosphere and experience’ of playing for the national team has improved under Steve Borthwick compared to life under former head coach Eddie Jones, adding that some of the practices Jones employed to get the best out of his players were ‘unnecessary’.
Varndell: Lam has put flair into Bears
WHEN it comes to scoring tries in Premiership Rugby, few players have struck fear into opposition defences quite like Tom Varndell.
Let's hope Brizball can stay in fashion
THIS is not obviously the time to be talking balls – the Twickenham elite have cornered that particular market – but the question demands to be asked: is Brizball the union game’s version of Bazball?
Roots looking to find his old form
ETHAN Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with more of a splutter.
Dragons still can't get better of Cardiff
DRAGONS’ nightmare run against their fiercest rivals continued as they fell to their 19th consecutive defeat, having not beaten them since Boxing Day 2014.
