Blamire’s sticking at hooker – Walder
Newcastle are not looking to do an Alfie Barbeary with Jamie Blamire despite fielding the pacy England hooker in their back row against Harlequins last weekend.
Blamire has found his minutes with the Falcons rationed because George McGuigan has been one of the Premiership‘s in-form hookers in the last three seasons.
There was a point last season when Blamire had spent more time on the field with England, despite starting only one international, than he had with the Falcons and his ability and pace in the loose made him an obvious call when Newcastle faced a back row injury crisis last week.
“It was a temporary measure,” said Dave Walder, Newcastle’s director of rugby. “Jamie is a brilliant rugby player and the most exciting and dynamic forward we have. He plays like a back rower from hooker but once our back row boys are back we will return him to the front row.
“He has England aspirations at hooker but when we spoke to him about moving to the back row, he said that if it got him on to the pitch he would do it. He did a pretty good job and it gives him versatility.”
McGuigan has been among the top try scorers in the Premiership for the last two seasons and started the new campaign with a couple against Quins, but Blamire has run in six for England and, with his contract at Newcastle running out at the end of the campaign, he will want more action than he saw last season.
“We have two very good hookers with different attributes,” said Walder. “George is for me among the top three hookers in the league and is someone who likes the tight play while Jamie is mobile and relishes the fast and loose stuff.
“We are lucky to have them and we are open and honest with them. Jamie’s involvement with England has changed his mindset. He realises what he has to do to stay there and he could become an even more outstanding hooker, which is good for us.
“George was our player of last season but there were times when we probably kept him on the field for too long. We have two international quality hookers and we have to make sure we use them based on who we are playing. At one point last season Jamie had played more for England than he had for his club.
“Jamie started for England against South Africa last season. They pose the biggest set-piece threat around and we have to use both our hookers and utilise their strengths based on who we are playing. I would like to think Jamie will have more time on the field this season.”
Barbeary broke into the England squad last season after moving from hooker to the back row at Wasps. Cameron Neild played in both positions for Sale and has now moved to Worcester while Ashley Johnson divided his time at Wasps between the two positions.
