Northampton Saints
Tales from the Members Bar v 2 No11 - Roger Wilson
By OSB
December 19 2008
Should I ever take part in Mastermind (Specialist Subject: The Life and Career of Mark Easter, rugby player) and be fortunate enough to get through to the second round, I have discovered a new specialist subject - Belfast Rugby. (........You and I would have some difficulty fitting into the chair Richard....Editor)
Tales from the Members' Bar
Vol.2 No.11 Roger Wilson
Should I ever take part in Mastermind (Specialist Subject: The Life and Career of Mark Easter, rugby player) and be fortunate enough to get through to the second round, I have discovered a new specialist subject - Belfast Rugby.
On the day of the players' Christmas luncheon, Roger Wilson was kind enough to give up ten minutes of his time to speak with Come On You Saints. Roger is another of those who would fall under the heading, As-nice-a-man-as-you-could-wish-to-meet. Like Paul Shields, a former pupil of the RBAI, Roger was a regular member of the first XV from the fifth form and tasted success in the Ulster Schools Cup twice. Having seen him play almost half a season for the Saints, it is hardly surprising that he caught the eye of the Ireland Schools selectors. It must have been a pretty fearsome combination - his back row colleagues were Denis Leamy and Shane Jennings.
From school he went into the IRFU Academy system and spent two years at Trinity College, Dublin.
In discussing his international career we came to the conclusion that getting into the Ireland pack was one of the hardest tasks imaginable. It is a measure of just how hard it is when a man of Roger's ability has only one cap to date, gained during a British Lions tour, and was half way around the world in Japan.
Most of his international rugby has been with Ireland A. He has had two seasons of Churchill Cup. With a change of management team his hopes for further caps are still strong - although his new life in Northampton means that he is not of the metaphorical doorstep when the squad is training or players are being watched.
For this reason it was not an easy decision to come to Northampton. It helped that there were players here that he knew. Although Shieldsy was a few years above him at school, he has known him for quite a while. Neil Best was coming, too. Having set up house with Besty in the summer, priorities changed with the arrival of his mate's fiancée. Feeling it could be awkward lodging with a couple he found himself sharing with Jimmy Downey and Starlo - the bin man also known as the drip. That is another for my little black book. So, Neil, why are you called the drip?
The housemates take it in turns to cook - Starlo's cooking is a bit on the plain side with plenty of pasta and chicken without much sauce. Nils Mordt and Ben Foden are regular visitors with Mordt taking a turn in the kitchen. Not so Foden. Forensic scientists have been called in to see if evidence can be found that Ben Foden has ever cooked for himself.
Roger has added to my fund of stories concerning Chris Ashton. I am told that if you go up to him after a game and hum the tune of that Rice and Lloyd Webber classic, Any Dream Will Do, you will immediately grab Chris's attention. He is a big fan of Joseph and Jason Donovan's autograph ranks high amongst his prized possessions.
Turning to the business of the week, I asked about the challenge presented by the Harlequins and in particular their back row. As you can imagine, Roger treats all opponents with respect but is not at all put off by the press plaudits going the way of the elder Easter, Robshaw and Skinner. Guest's not a bad player either. Does he have any information with which to furnish the squad with on the likes of Gavin Duffy (same Ireland Schools team) or Mike Ross (Ireland A).
He is surprised that Ross chose or was allowed to leave Munster. He is strong and a solid in the scrum. He is not sure if a tough, technical scrummager or a big brute of a prop would be the most disconcerting opponent for him. It will be a good battle whoever it is.
The fig roll made a rare appearance as the biscuit of choice and Marmite never appears on the shopping list. Roger has never had it and does not like the idea of it.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
arw
18.12.2008
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No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
Very moving experience! AheM!
ood read OSB
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