IN 2014 Will Taylor started for Wasps against Harlequins with 82,000 people watching on at a sold-out at Twickenham. Three years later he was selling fruit and vegetables on the streets of London and collecting empty glasses in his friend’s nightclub.
They say life is a rollercoaster, but the now 29-year-old from Swansea admits even he could not have anticipated his life taking such a dramatic turn.
As a teenager, Taylor starred for Wales at age grade level as a powerful scrummaging tighthead. Among his teammates were future full internationals Liam Williams, Gareth Davies, Scott Williams and Ashley Beck – men Taylor still counts as close friends.
Taylor’s career has panned out very differently to Wales stars Liam Williams, below, and Davies. Having come through the system at the Ospreys, he moved to Wasps where he made 21 appearances before heading back to Wales to play for the Scarlets.
It was then he decided to abruptly quit rugby at age 25.
“As a tighthead prop you can make a career bouncing around clubs and sitting on the bench here and there, but I just thought stuff it, I don’t fancy doing that,” he said. “My agent got me out of my contract, but I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do next. I just knew I didn’t want to play rugby anymore as I was sick of it.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin January 17, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin January 17, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.
