I was with Kettering 1sts by then and was supposed to be playing for them at Luton, but Saints had seen me play for East Northants, liked what they saw, and called me up as emergency injury cover at lock.
On the day of the match, Saints’ team secretary, Andy Johnson, rang me saying Dave Caplan, the England full-back who was a dentist from Stamford, would be picking me up and taking me to London. For some reason, in those days Harlequins played their first six home games across the road at Twickenham, and there were 20,000 people in the crowd. It was also our hooker’s debut so you had a hooker and a lock who had never thrown a ball to each other before in their life. The groundsman wouldn’t let us on the hallowed turf to practise lineouts so we used the car park instead.
I went back to Kettering for one more game, a Cup game against Lichfield, but that was it, the next 13 years (1979-1992) were at Saints. I wouldn’t say I was a great player but I would fight every single lost cause and put my head where others wouldn’t. I look back at DVDs that people have done for me and it’s a bit embarrassing seeing some of what went on. I wasn’t a dirty player but I could handle myself pretty well, hence I would always be picked for trips to Wales.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin November 26, 2023 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 November 26, 2023 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.
