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.
This story is from the July 16, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 16, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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.