By Leipziger
November 7 2004

In this tribute to the recently-retired Andrew Mower, Leipziger takes us through the highs and lows of his four years at Kingston Park.

It is ironic that, as an openside flanker Richard Arnold became the only Gosforth / Newcastle player to date to receive a testimonial match, we had two world-class specialist opensides at the end of last season and have now lost both - Warren Britz went back to South Africa, and last week after over a year out with a knee injury Andrew Mower finally called time on his rugby career. Thank heavens for Colin Charvis!

Mower joined Newcastle in the summer of 2000 after a year at London Irish. The Australian made his debut at home to Northampton on the opening day, scoring a try in our 27-21 victory over the European Champions. He missed only seven of our 36 matches in his debut season, scoring three tries, and played in the back row at Twickenham as we took the Tetley’s Bitter Cup from Harlequins.

Injuries in his second season kept his appearance count low, only seven competitive starts, although he did play in the 42-9 destruction of Toulouse in the Heineken Cup in November 2001. At the start of the 2002-03 season, with the emergence of Phil Dowson the decision was taken to loan Mower to the new Borders club, but by Christmas, with the club in grave danger of relegation, the management realised this error and brought him back in time to play in the holiday defeats at London Irish and Sale.

By the start of February, with Marks Andrews and Mayerhofler and a fit-again Jonny Wilkinson in the side, Andrew brought his fantastic talent back to our pack alongside Hugh Vyvyan and Epi Taione to keep new signing Britz out of the side, and played six of our last eight league games as we saved our Premiership status.

Unfortunately for the club side though, Mower had attracted the attention of the Scottish selectors, and along with Stuart Grimes and Jonny Wilkinson went to Australia for the 2003 World Cup. A broken leg in a pool match saw a long rehabilitation and multiple operations, including an argument between the Falcons and the SRU over insurance payments, which could’ve threatened Grimes and Craig Hamilton’s international futures, before Mower was forced to retire in autumn 2004.

For months we have prayed for Andrew’s return, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The game has lost an excellent exponent, but as he returns to his office career we wish him all the best and he will always be welcome at Kingston Park.

Appearances: 43 starts, 7 replacements. 3 tries.

Honours: RFU Cup Winner 2001

Debut: Northampton home 20th August 2000 (Premiership)

Last match: Bath away 10th May 2003 (Premiership)