If results go according to plan this weekend will see the curtain come down on the rugby career of one of my fiercest competitors.
Danny Grewcock was one of the hardest players I have played with or against. Sure he has stepped over the line on a few occasions he has gone so far past it that he has lost sight of it, but for those who know him excepted that in order to have Danny at his best he would occasionally lose it.
So what does Danny at his best look like?
On the field- A tough competitor who never took a backward step, relished the confrontation areas, a player who you’d want on your side. A player when you needed him would happily lead and set the example but also know when to take a back seat and get on and do his job, always to the best of his ability.
In training- He set the targets, in the England camp his was the first fitness result I looked for to compare myself against, but in training he went out of his way to help others and made sure the rest of the team were as prepared as he was.
Off the field- A great guy, a real inclusive team man who liked his bit of fun and mischief.
A game which sums up Danny- Tigers were playing Bath at Welford Rd, I was on the wrong side of the ruck trying to slow the ball down, I deserved a shoeing and Danny duly obliged in spades. An altercation followed, I knew Danny had a bad achilles so there I was punching the back of his heal in the a ruck- The battle ensued for the remainder of the game, the final whistle went we both left the field bloodied and bruised- After the game we both jumped in a car together for an England camp meet- talking about all things non rugby as if nothing had happened.
There are not enough guys like Danny in modern rugby, one of the games great competitors and life’s good guys – who is going to keep the Jeff Blacketts of this world busy now?
Cozza
