MY LIFE IN RUGBY

THE FORMER NEWCASTLE, SCARLETS, LONDON IRISH AND SARACENS WINGER

My journey is a bit of an unusual one in that I was working as a full time accountant when I had the opportunity to turn professional at 23.

One day I was plugging numbers into a spreadsheet, the next I was running out onto the pitch at Kingston Park alongside Jamie Noon and Carl Hayman for the Falcons. My career changed overnight, and my story is one that proves anything is possible when you apply yourself, work hard and seize every opportunity that comes your way.

Squash was my sport growing up in North Wales and I was to play for Wales U19s in the World Junior Championships in Pakistan until I broke my wrist. I got a bursary to play squash at Newcastle University, and that prevented me from playing student rugby.

So I joined the local club, Blaydon, in the National Leagues just to keep fit and meet a few boys. Having scored 73 tries in 77 matches, I ended up catching the eye of the Falcons coaches.

While working full-time as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers, I got called up as injury cover and scored twice in three Premiership games, including one on debut against Sale. After that, Scarlets offered me a contract and faced with the choice between a 9 to 7 job or the chance to play for one of the Welsh regions, I knew I had to give it a go.

My record of scoring on debut continued, at Harlequins in the AngloWelsh Cup, and I had four great seasons there.

I was lucky to be at Parc y Scarlets when a number of the big-name Wales stars were emerging. The likes of George North and Liam Williams were coming through alongside me on the wing, providing plenty of competition for places.

But as much as it was a pleasure to be playing with the likes of those boys in such an amazing era for the Scarlets, I was trying to compete for international honours alongside two of the best in the business.

When I realised a Wales cap wasn’t going to be on the cards, I seized the opportunity to join London Irish.

My last season at Scarlets had been my best and I managed to keep that momentum going in Reading, finishing my first season as top try scorer. I had three happy years and really started to lay some foundations for the future in London.

When Irish were relegated I had a couple of offers from elsewhere but I was in the fortunate position that I was able to decide to retire on my terms. I had always invested so much time during my career into networking and work experience that I decided to capitalise on this by securing a job in the City with a sustainable investment fund, set up by Al Gore.

Sharing a few beers with the former US Vice President, exchanging my rugby and his college football stories, was quite surreal! But, after three months, another injury crisis brought me the most unexpected swansong; Saracens came calling to see if I could help.

If it had been any other club, I’d have turned them down, but I was fascinated to see at first-hand what made them so successful. I had three fantastic months there in the 2016/17 season, it was just a shame we didn’t win the league that season as that provided my last opportunity to win silverware.

Not that I have any regrets. As someone said, medals gather dust but memories last forever, and I have some pretty unbelievable memories.

And it doesn’t end there. In the latest instalment of my rugby story, I decided to leave my role at the investment fund in 2017 when I secured investment to launch my own rugby agency, Certo Management.

One of the greatest and most rewarding challenges of my career, it fills me with immense pride to help my roster of boys achieve their potential and leave their own legacy, both on and off the pitch.