Prosser had some fun with Boris and Arkle

ALUN CARTER has played international rugby and written an award-winning book, Seeing Red, which surely makes him unique in the British game. He has achieved a great deal more, not least as head analyst of the management team behind the best of all Welsh Slams of the 21st century, in 2005.

Over a period of nine years, he served under four head coaches – Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Mike Ruddock and Gareth Jenkins. After five years at Worcester as team manager, Carter returned to Pontypool, initially as a consultant, then as director of rugby.

He left six years ago but, having played for the club almost 150 times, few are better versed in ‘Pooler’ and what made them tick, especially under Ray Prosser. Carter is eminently qualified, therefore, on the late coach’s predeliction for nicknames.

Having touched upon the subject following the great man’s death last month, this column can now offer further examples thanks to Carter’s insight. “They were often irreverent,’’ he writes. “Nowhere near politically correct but aligned to humour and were often an aide memoire for the coach.’’

Here are some which may have been missed:

Kevin Moseley, Pontypool’s international second row, answered to the nickname Boris, as in the actor Boris Karloff who played Frankenstein.

“In his early days,’’ says Carter. “His face was badly scarred from the inevitable confrontations. That led ‘Pross’ to thinking about Frankenstein, then the actor who played him, Boris Karloff.’’

Another second row, Kevin Edwards, was known as ‘Arkle.’

“He used to tape his ankles over his socks and the bandage above his boots looked like Arkle’s white socks.’’

Then there was John ‘Buffalo’ McCabe, so-called because of his capacity for ‘bowling defenders over for fun’. And, last but by no means least, The Banana Bunch – collective reference to certain committee men.

Prosser was never short of colourful language when confronted by somebody or something which didn’t seem quite right. “He was concerned about one player who appeared to have a restrictive running style,’’ Carter recalled. “He took me aside and said: ‘Son, you’re running like the hairs of your arse are tied together…’’’

Enough said.