Jet-setter Jamal aiming to make splash at Saints
RAMPAGING prop Jamal Ford-Robinson reckons foregoing his summer holidays was a small price to pay in return for the “fantastic experience” gained with England.
The Northampton-bound tighthead reveals he was midway through a trip to Magaluf before being summoned to join England ahead of May’s showdown against the Barbarians.
And the former Bristol tighthead then had to scrub a trip to Marbella when injuries to Paul Hill and Nick Schonert meant a late call-up to South America.
Ford-Robinson, 23, said: “It was all massively unexpected. I was in the middle of a pool party in Magaluf when I got a call from Bristol’s team manager, so I put the beer down and next thing I know I’m stepping out in an England shirt against the Baa-baas.
“I thought that would be that, but then injuries meant I had to cancel my trip to Marbella and headed to Argentina instead. It was unbelievable trip and a fantastic experience.
“I didn’t get to play in the Tests because Harry Williams and Will Collier did so well, but just to work closely with Eddie Jones and Neal Hatley over that four-week period was fantastic – I chewed their ears off for all kinds of advice.”
Ford-Robinson added: “I didn’t have any idea what to expect from Eddie, but I enjoyed working with him. He’s got the serious side but he’s also good to get along with and I gained a lot from that environment.
“I knew I was a late third choice but he told me he’s really pleased with what he’s seen and wants me to keep working on the programmes he and Hats have given me. They’ll be watching me at Northampton and it’s up to me to make the most of this move.”
Having been rejected by Leicester, Penryn-raised Ford-Robinson returned to his West Country roots to seek advice from then-Cornish Pirates boss Ian Davies.
A hugely successful 201314 season at Cambridge saw him named in TRP’s National Two South dream team before he returned to the Pirates and was converted from loosehead to tighthead.
Ford-Robinson explained: “I supported Leicester as a kid and it was a big move when I went there at 16, but maybe moving so early got to me a bit and things never really clicked.
“It taught me how to deal with adversity, though, and after I’d spoken to Ian Davies at the Pirates, he recommended I should get some men’s rugby under my belt and one of my best moves was leaving Leicester to join Cambridge.
“I played over 30 games that season, playing for England Counties and Cornwall as well, which led me back to the Pirates. Their coach Alan Paver then converted me to tighthead and put the foundations in place before I moved to Bristol.”
As an uncompromising ball-carrying machine, Ford-Robinson is determined to stamp a mark at Saints as he looks to build on his England experience.
“I know circumstances enabled me to get into that England squad so my focus is purely on Northampton and doing as well as I can in the Premiership,” he said.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at someone like Kyle Sinckler and take some inspiration from that.
“He came from off the radar and now look where he is with the work he’s put in. There are similarities in the way we play and it shows what can happen in a short time if you keep your head down and graft.”