Resurgent Hibbard is eyeing Test recall
RICHARD Hibbard says he has “fallen in love” with rugby all over again as he seeks to build on his Player of the Season awards at Gloucester and recapture a place in Warren Gatland’s thoughts.
The forgotten Wales hooker admits to losing some of his enthusiasm for the game after being overlooked by Gatland during the 2015-16 season.
But last term saw the front-rower rediscover his vim and vigour at Gloucester, and the 33-year-old says he has high hopes at what the Johan Ackermann era will bring at Kingsholm.
Hibbard was named both Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Season in a campaign that saw the Cherry and Whites finish ninth in the Premiership and lose to Stade Francais in the final of the European Challenge Cup.
Looking back on the 2015-16 season and how things changed for the better last year, Hibbard told TRP: “I wasn’t in a rut, but things become normal and you want to challenge yourself.
“However, with a new fitness coach and other new staff last year I kind of fell in love with the game again. Everything was slightly different. I thoroughly enjoyed last season – apart from the results.
“We had a slight change of game-plan and adopted more of a running game, and you have to adapt your body. I had to get streamlined and drop a few kilos.
“Last season’s awards were bittersweet. I would have swapped them for a better league finish or winning the cup at the end.”
Hibbard, who joined Gloucester in 2014, has welcomed the early tone set by new coach Ackermann.
“What Johan’s going to bring is a big culture,” explained Hibbard. “He doesn’t care if you’ve got 200 caps, played for the Lions or if you’re still in the academy. As long as you work hard for the shirt you’ll have an opportunity.
“The emphasis is on a big pack. We saw that with the early forwards sessions that he did – they were among the hardest I’d done.”
Hibbard, who last played for Wales in a World Cup warm-up in 2015, added: “You never retire internationally. I still have one eye on the next World Cup but I understand why Wales have an eye on the future. Time waits for no man.”