Tyro Green stamping his mark at the Rec
MAX Green is intent on following fellow Tyke Danny Care into the big time after revealing how a stamping ban this time last year earned him a shot at Bath.
No.9 Green, 22, was handed a three-week ban for stomping on Doncaster’s Ben Hunter while playing for Yorkshire Carnegie at the start of last season, during which time the 2016 England U20s Junior World Cup winner managed to grab a contract at Bath after training with them.
After featuring in Bath’s opening Premiership games this season, Green told The Rugby Paper: “It was a funny one with Yorkshire because we were struggling at the time with the squad and there was a bit of a financial issue, so I ended up coming down to Bath.
“I was serving a threeweek ban at the time for stamping and knew Andy Rock, Bath’s academy manager, well from his time with Yorkshire, so I got some good training in and ended up staying for the rest of the season under his eyes and the other coaches.
“It was a good taste of the Premiership environment and I made the best of a bad situation with the ban, I guess. I just trained my socks off, learnt from hugely experienced No.9s like Kahn Fotuali’i, Chris Cook and Darren Allinson and managed to get some game time.
“I played four Premiership games, which helped settle my nerves coming into this season, and although I was a bit surprised to start against Gloucester last weekend, it’s what you dream of as a kid playing in a big derby game in front of over 15,000 people.”
Green added: “Danny Care’s someone I’ve always looked up to as an ex-Yorkshire player and would love to emulate. He’s a great runner who’s always a threat so I’ve got my opportunity now and it’s up to me to earn a reputation as someone the coaches trust.”
Green and Care share more than just a position. Like the England No.9, Green was a decent footballer in his younger days and was a member of Bradford City’s academy. However, he opted to play rugby at fly-half before later being persuaded to switch inside.
He explained: “Football was always my first sport. But I started playing rugby when I was 13 or 14 and once Bradford had released me that became my game.
“I started as a fly-half and was 19 before I became a scrum-half, so I always knew it would be a bit more of a long run to make a mark in the Premiership.
“Andy Rock’s been a big influence, while I spent lots of Tuesday and Thursday nights in the rain with Joe Bedford passing balls and kicking.
“Bryan Redpath was great, too, and being part of the Yorkshire side that made the 2017 Championship final was good.
“The speed of the Premiership is different gravy, though. It’s so much faster around the ruck speed, getting the ball away and making split second decisions under fatigue, but Bath have pushed me really hard fitness-wise and I’ve made lots of big gains there.”