HOW BERNARD JACKMAN PERSUADED ME TO JOIN HIS DRAGONS REVOLUTION
BOB Geldof once travelled aboard the Eurostar to Paris ahead of the Ospreys getting thrashed by Stade Francais in the old Heineken Cup, prompting a matchreport intro that suggested the Welsh region didn’t much like Fridays.
The French were 29-3 up at halftime and finished as 43-10 winners, playing a devastating brand of rugby.
The Ospreys would kick deep and hope for respite only to find Juan Martin Hernandez, Christophe Dominici, Ignacio Corleto and Alain Penaud running back at them from anywhere and everywhere.
Maybe one visiting player emerged from the carnage with his reputation enhanced – and that was Richard Hibbard.
He tackled himself to a standstill and repeatedly carried the ball into the heart of the French cover.
Had he not been playing 43-10 could have been 53-10, or 530-10.
It was clear that night in the French capital that the hooker did not understand the meaning of the word ‘quit’.
That is just what the Dragons will be getting for their money next season.
Accepted, close on 12 years have elapsed since that plastering in Paris for Lyn Jones’s side, but Hibbard’s competitive streak still burns brightly, evidenced by Gloucester lauding him as a “warrior” when the news was announced that he would be departing Kingsholm next summer.
It wasn’t a move everyone saw coming.
Hibbard was born in Neath and spent 10 seasons piling up 175 appearances for the Ospreys. So, how is it that he has signed on for a three-year spell with the Dragons?
THE JACKMAN FACTOR
BERNARD Jackman, the Pied Piper of regional rugby, undoubtedly used his charm to get the Hibbard deal over the line.
“I met with Bernard and had a coffee with him,” says Hibbard.
“He’s a charismatic bloke and we didn’t just speak about rugby.
“But when we did talk about the game, I got excited just listening to what he was saying.
“He explained his vision for the Dragons, outlined his plans to take them forward and spoke about the squad he’s building.
“He’s a very honest man and a straight talker, which is something I like.
“I’d rather someone told me exactly what they’re thinking rather than keep it bottled up.
“The second sort of coach is no good to anyone.
“I just left his company and thought the Dragons would be a good place for me to enjoy the next stage of my career.
“He had told me they were rebuilding and had some amazing young players but needed a few older heads to balance things out in the squad.
“I’ve been around the block a few times, so I guess I fitted the bill.”
THE CONTRACT AND THE LESSON OF TIATIA
PRESUMABLY, the lengthy contract for a 34-year-old wasn’t exactly a deterrent, but Hibbard is not having anything to do with the idea that he will be in Newport next season just to top up his pension fund.
“Of course it’s brilliant that people have enough faith in you to give you a three-year contract,” he says.
“But I have never been about just taking the money.
“Everywhere I have played I have given my heart and soul to the
cause and that is not going to change next season. “You take inspiration from someone like Filo Tiatia, who joined the Ospreys when he was 35 and played some incredible rugby until he was 39. He was a proper professional, a great team man who lived his job and did everything as it should be done. “The lesson from him was that if you look after yourself you can keep going.”
THE NEED FOR FOUR STRONG REGIONS
THE Dragons have been the weakest of the four professional sides in Wales for much of the regional era, regularly finishing down among the dead men in the league. They were a top-four side in the opening two seasons or regional rugby, but since then have been the bottom region for all but two seasons. What has been going on? “What has happened has happened,” says Hibbard. “All you can try to do is learn from it. But we need four strong regions to benefit the national team. “I think that could help everyone. “If you had every region firing on all cylinders there would probably be a more even spread of international players, so you wouldn’t have a situation like you have now of one or two squads being hit really hard during Test windows.
“It used to be the case that there was more balance in Welsh rugby: strong sides from Gwent across to Llanelli. I know times have changed and the sport is professional with resources stretched, but it would be great to see Rodney Parade rocking again.”
RODNEY PARADE
“I used to hate playing there as a visiting player,” continues Hibbard.
“The crowd used to be on your case and on the referee’s case and right behind their own team.
“I have no memory of going there and having an easy game.
“The Ospreys couldn’t win there at one point.
“It’s didn’t matter if we rested players or threw the kitchen sink at them by fielding our best team – they still seemed to edge us.
“I just want to help them become as strong as possible once again.
“That said, I know everything is not going to click into place overnight.
“I joined Gloucester four seasons ago and it has taken time to get things together.
“Building blocks have to be put in place. A squad has to be assembled and the best combinations worked out and the right game-plan drawn up. All that can take take a while to sort out.”
ELLIOT DEE
HIBBARD will share the hooking duties in Newport with Elliot Dee, a player who is very much upwardly mobile after catching the eye for Wales during the recent autumn Tests.
Is the veteran planning solely for a second-fiddle role once his Gloucester days are over? It is akin to asking Conan the Barbarian whether he’d be happy to spend his time reading and smoking a pipe while some great battle is unfolding outside his tent.
“I’m going there to compete with Elliot, of course I am,” says Hibbard.
“He’s a fantastic young player and I’ll help him in whatever way I can.
“But every rugby player is competitive and I am no different.
“It’s the old story: the competition should drive us both on.
“I’m not young any more, but I still feel I have something to offer and I still feel there’s stuff to learn.
“I have never been one to think I know it all.
“It’s important for me to go to the Dragons and play well.
“I want to repay Bernard for bringing me back to Wales.”
GLOUCESTER
HIBBARD credits Gloucester with helping to revive his career.
“I have had a brilliant time there,” he says. “I guess I fit their mould. “The fans have been brilliant and I’ve loved pulling on the shirt, but this was a chance to head home and finish my career in Wales.”
REACTION TO MOVE
“I have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction,” he adds.
“My Twitter feed has been full up with people wishing me well.
“I wish I could reply to them all but it would take me the best part of two weeks to do so.”
Welsh rugby is better for having Hibbard back. And Rodney Parade? Rodney Parade will love him.