Davison raises the bar on his career
REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF YOUNG PROP
NEWCASTLE Falcon prop-forward Trevor Davison is relishing his professional baptism after a remarkable rugby journey.
A third-team hooker at Blaydon five years ago and a beer delivery man as recently as last May, the 25-year-old has taken to full-time rugby with a level of enthusiasm and ability which is reaping welldeserved rewards.
“I am absolutely delighted with where I am at the moment and how things are going,” said the former England Counties international, a fully-fledged Geordie who is beaming at the prospect of representing his home-town club in tomorrow’s European Challenge Cup opener against Welsh side Dragons at Kingston Park Stadium.
“When I first signed in the summer I thought hopefully I might get a few European or Anglo-Welsh Cup games, but I have been involved in every Aviva Premiership match so far. “I made my first start last weekend at Exeter which was massive for me, and I’m just loving the whole thing. “I just try my best in training every day, keep chipping away and keep learning from the players who are here. Hopefully I have already made decent progress but I know there is a lot more to come.
“My outlook is just to try and achieve more every year and to keep learning.
“Whatever I achieve this season I want to do more next season and that is just my attitude to life.
“At first it was hard adjusting into a fully-professional schedule but I think I have done OK and I had a physical job prior to doing this.
“I was lifting beer barrels all day every day and rugby is basically just hoying things around!
“An 80-kilo keg of beer takes a bit of shifting and hopefully that has helped me.
“What has been new to me is doing things like dynamic stability sessions, standing on one leg and all that kind of thing.
“It all helps and the way we get looked after by the conditioners and medical staff here is outstanding in terms of keeping the boys fresh.”
Davison’s move into the professional ranks forced him to press the pause button on a move to the other side of the world as he had an offer to join an Australian club, where he would work and play.
While that is always an option for the future, Davison is enjoying the feeling of playing top-flight rugby.
He added: “It was an unbelievable feeling running out for my first Premiership start at Exeter.
“I was propping against an England international, having been playing in National One last year, and I loved the whole thing.
“The Premiership stuff has gone alright but Europe is a new start for us and we want to show up well against the Dragons.”
Tickets for tomorrow’s 3.00 kick-off are available by calling 0871 226 6060.