I miss them at Christmas, but I know when I’m playing I’m doing it all for my wife and kids
HUGHES ON THE PRICE OF BEING A PRO SPORTSMAN APART FROM THEIR LOVED ONES
THIS is the time of the year for families to be together, not apart, so the pull on the heartstrings is hard for Nathan Hughes.
The former England No.8 spent Christmas in Bristol without his Dutch wife Ella and two young children, who have moved to New Zealand.
Until Hughes, 28, finishes playing in England, that will be the way of things with their eldest, Johannes, due to start school next year and the family’s future mapped out on the other side of the world.
Fiji-born Hughes, who will lead the Bears’ charge against his former team Wasps at Ashton Gate tonight, is the breadwinner left behind.
“I miss them, but I know, when I am playing, I am playing for my wife and kids,” said Hughes.
“We keep in touch – I am able to see them every night through FaceTime – but it is difficult.
“They are enjoying their time back at home, but, hopefully, they will be back over to visit in January or February.” Instead, Hughes’ adoptive family over the festive period have been Bristol’s other Pacific Islanders.
They have also been his church-going partners.
He, like them, has a strong Christian faith. With Fiji’s World Cup star Semi Radradra arriving in the summer to join Chris Vui and the Piutau brothers, Bristol has a strengthening South Seas community. “He’s not a bad signing! He will add to the group we have here,” said Hughes. “But it’s not only the islanders, everyone gels and mingles together at Bristol. Black or white, we’re all one Bear.” Under Pat Lam, the Bears have made their best start to a Premiership season for 13 years with some sparkling rugby.
For six years, Wasps were Hughes’ family, but he switched to Bristol this season.
“I looked at the fixture list and Wasps over Christmas jumped out,” he added. “There will be a lot of emotion – Wasps were my team – but this is my team now.”
A bump in the road occurred last weekend when Bristol crashed to a 47-13 defeat at Saracens.
But Hughes said: “Pat never said we were going to win overnight – his vision is for five years.”