Dunn: A Gloucester fan once poured a pint of cider all over me...
A QUICK glance at Tom Dunn’s ears tells the story of his career at Bath. Crushed and macerated, looking more like old schnitzels than sensory organs. When it comes to West Country rugby, the hooker has seen and heard it all.
‘Ian McGeechan used to live over there,’ the 31-year-old says. ‘We’ve had eight directors of rugby since I left school in 2010 and he was my first.’
Born and bred around Bath, Dunn has been at the club longer than anyone else. He is one of the few players who would be able to recall what they were doing in 2004, when they last won the Premiership title. ‘I had my 11th and 13th birthday parties at the Rec. You’d get a player to come and do a session with you. I had James Scaysbrook and Andrew Higgins.’
So when it comes to the West Country derby, with Bath hosting Gloucester today, there is no one better to sum up its significance.
‘The outside picture is that Bath wear their chinos and Gloucester wear trackies. One of my first games, in 2012-13, was at Gloucester. I was trying to throw the ball in at the lineout and there was a Gloucester fan behind me shouting, “Dunn, Dunn, are you hungry, are you hungry?” I’m thinking, “What is he on about?” and he goes, “Cos your a**e is eating your shorts!”.
‘In the same game there was a big scrap with Nick Abendanon, Leroy Houston, Dom Day and the Welsh No 9 for Gloucester. I was sat on the bench cheering and a Gloucester fan just poured a whole pint of cider on me. What can you do?
‘He was just shouting, “Sit down! Sit down!” It’s personal because you grow up playing against the same people. For every three Bath fans I know, I probably know a Gloucester fan. There’s a connection. You start playing for Wiltshire and Dorset against Gloucester when you’re 14 years old. It’s the same people and the same faces. Some of the Gloucester lads I’ve been playing against for 15 years. On the pitch they know how to wind you up and you know how to wind them up.’
Dunn has experienced the glory as well as the ignominy of the fixture. In 2022 Bath suffered the humiliation of a 64-0 defeat but
times have changed. Now Bath are the region’s high flyers, entering a new era with the likes of Johann van Graan and Finn Russell.
‘In the last few years we’ve lost heavily. You see the enjoyment they get from it and it hurts you more. It works both ways. I was still at school when we won the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2008. We won the A league in 2012 but we’ve lost three finals: Prem Cup, Challenge Cup, Prem final.
‘There have been seasons where we’re fighting for the top four and seasons we’re fighting not to finish bottom. What you’re fighting for changes. I’ve experienced it all and that’s why I’m enjoying this year so much, as I know what it feels like on the other side.’
As for the impact of Russell, Dunn says: ‘Finn’s been awesome around the place. As a forward, it’s much easier to carry if there’s always the threat of a 10 behind you. If you haven’t got that 10 behind you, they can tee off on the forwards. He creates things where other players can’t. That takes the tension off the other players.’
His efforts for Bath have been rewarded with three England caps — all at empty stadiums during lockdown — but his ambition burns brightly. ‘That was over three years ago now. Before Covid, I was on the bench for Scotland away and I didn’t get on. A week later we went into lockdown. There was a lot of pent up frustration and desperation to get a cap.
‘When I called my family it was just a massive joyous release that I’d done it. I wasn’t one of the conveyor belt kids who play England 16, 18, 20s and get a contract.
It was a long journey. I always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder.
‘The empty stadium was frustrating and that’s why I was so desperate to play at the World Cup. I thought there was a chance my three kids could watch me playing for England but it didn’t happen.’
‘Ultimately, it’s not up to you. I’m stronger than I’ve been, throwing better than I have, scrummaging better than I have.
‘You’re never going to say no to playing for your country but the next tick on the box is to win something with Bath.’
Today’s derby could be another step in the right direction.