FIJIAN TITAN IS DREAMING OF ENGLAND
Hughes can line up next summer
WHEN Nathan Hughes arrived at Wasps after agreeing terms with a club he had never even heard of, things looked altogether bleaker for the Premiership outfit than they do today.
The Fijian-born back rower had been told by Auckland Blues head coach John Kirwan his services would not be required for the following season. Out of the blue, Hughes received a call from Wasps director of rugby Dai Young inviting him to move to Acton.
He was scouted as a like-for-like replacement for Billy Vunipola in March 2013, after the England No 8, spooked by Wasps’ dire financial predicament at the time,, moved to arch-rivals Saracens.. The 24- year- old needed to Google the double European Cup champions s before deciding to sign.
With Wasps on the brink of bankruptcy at the time, it’s reasonable to assume Young was looking to o save a few quid in wages,s, but his offer was acceptedted and Hughes has repaid him in spades by establishing himself as one of the outstanding No 8s in Europe.
He would be a certainty to be included in Eddie Jones’ first England side to face Scotland on February 6 were it not that he still has six months before qualifying on the grounds of residency.
But, to the relief of those who have seen the former Kelston Boys High School pupil tear up the Premiership over the past two seasons, Hughes is prepared to commit his future to England after hesitating when the question was first put to him at the end of last season.
‘I play my rugby here and say this is home for me now,’ he said. ‘My main goal this season is Wasps and the long-term goal is to play for England.
‘When the day comes for me to qualify, if I’m good enough for the selectors and coaches, then I’ll put my hand up for it. ‘There’s a lot of competition out thereth and some good No 8s wwith Ben Morgan, Billy Vunipola and Dave Ewers. I’ve got to keep oon top of my game and play well week in, week out.’
Hughes will qualify tthrough residency on June 27 next year, two days after England complete a three-Test tour of Australia which makes a mockery of rugby authorities’ oft-trotted-out line of making player welfare their ‘ No 1 priority’.
At least, unlike the exhausted players who will be dragged around Australia at the end of the most gruelling season in history, Hughes will have the chance to recharge his batteries before starting next term knowing it will be a matter of when, not if, international honours arrive.
‘Before I came here, looking at the history going back with players like Lawrence Dallaglio and Billy Vunipola, they were big boots to fill and I had to perform,’ Hughes said.
‘I didn’t want to let people down by just being a one-hit wonder. I’ve worked on the little things so the big things happen later.
‘This is my third year with Wasps but I think it only kicked in towards the end of last year that one day I could play for England. I’ve set that as my long-term goal. When 2016 kicks in I’ll start to count down.
‘Everyone’s dream is to play international rugby for their country. When the time comes for me I think I’ll be ready. At this time I’m probably 80 per cent ready.’
Hughes’ recent Premiership player of the month award for November was just reward for a magnificent start to the season which has seen Hughes elevate his game by combining his powerful carrying and offloading game with a newfound appetite for defending.
An excellent footballer for such an enormous man, the back-row star could well find himself alongside the man he was brought in to replace in the Wasps pack when his time comes to pull on an England shirt.
‘In the time I’ve been at Wasps, I’ve learned a lot about my role at eight. In New Zealand I played most of my rugby at six. I’ve developed further than I expected.
‘When I first came in 2013 I thought it was going to be a slow start and after two years I’d head back. But now that I’ve settled in and am enjoying my rugby here, now I can say this is home for me.’
A former Fiji schools hockey player, adept footwork and sleight of hand, allied to his 19st 4lb, 6ft 4in frame, make Hughes one of the most destructive forces in English rugby.
He will line up against Bath today at No 8 in a world-class Wasps back row with England blindside James Haskell and former Wallaby openside George Smith.
Wasps — now financially buoyant following businessman Derek Richardson’s intervention last season — will look to wrest back control of Pool Five in the Champions Cup after last Sunday’s injury- time defeat by the same opponents at their new home, the Ricoh Arena.
‘We’ve had some success this season but we need to build on it,’ Hughes said. ‘It’s an exciting time.’