Ambitious Nick Kennedy has Stooped to conquer

Turning your back on the superstar lifestyle at galactico-laden Toulon might appear to be mad.
But Nick Kennedy insists he is comfortable with his decision to quit the European champions for Harlequins.
Former London Irish and England lock Kennedy, 31, has even taken a pay cut after answering Quins boss Conor O’Shea’s SOS to replace the retired Olly Kohn at the Stoop.
But he is still ambitious for more success.
Kennedy told The Rugby Paper: “Who knows if it’s a good decision yet? But I’m really enjoying myself, I’m getting on well with the guys at Quins and there’s a great squad here.
“It’s a very successful young squad, one that’s won trophies in the each of the last three years, so there’s a lot of hunger to do more.
“If we’re successful here the money won’t matter because I’d have got the success I wanted.
“You can’t go up in pay every year from when you start to when you retire, so sometimes you have to take a hit in order to move on in life.
“I’d intended to stay at Toulon but Conor called during my holiday period and offered me the chance to come back. I’ve known Conor for years, he signed me at London Irish when I was 19.
“Toulon weren’t keen on letting me go but said they would if they could find someone else. They ended up with Ali Williams and everyone was happy.
“It was a massive decision to leave Toulon. They’re a hugely successful team with some of the world’s best players and it’s a beautiful place.
“Had I not won the Heineken Cup there last season I wouldn’t have come back. I’d have felt like I had unfinished business and wouldn’t have been a success.
“But in my eyes, I had a very successful year there, playing in huge games, so I was happy to move back in the knowledge I’d done well.”
Part of Kennedy’s reasoning behind his return revolved around a burning desire to get back into the Test reckoning, after England made it clear players based in France would no longer be picked.
Adding to his seven caps looks a long shot, but Kennedy wants to build on last season’s form.
He said: “I feel really good physically and I was happy with my form last season, when we not only won the Heineken but made the Top 14 final as well.
“I’ve got England ambitions. I don’t know if they’re realistic or not because it all depends on selection and how I’m playing at Quins.
“I’m well aware I’m a country mile off and there are a number of locks ahead of me, with some youngsters coming through as well.
“Winning the Heineken Cup was great but playing for England was a pinnacle that meant an awful lot to me.”
Another Heineken Cup victory would help his cause and despite the advantages enjoyed by the cash-rich French, he believes English sides can compete.
“Leicester came to Toulon in the quarters last season and ran us really close. Had they beaten us, they might well have won it,” he said. “It’s difficult because top French teams have bigger squads and can compete more easily on two fronts, but I don’t see why an English team cannot win.
“English sides are full of international players and while they might be younger and less experienced than some of the guys in France, they’re still stars.”
This season’s Aviva Premiership, Kennedy believes, will be the closest yet. He added: “It’s just so competitive at the top now and the Premiership has got stronger, even in the year I’ve been away.
“The skills are getting better, the people are bigger and stronger and it’s now a very tough league to play in, but that enhances the challenge.
“There’s been a lot of talk at Quins about losing last season’s semi-final and the squad here is hungry to go another step further.”
NEALE HARVEY