MY LIFEIN RUGBY

JAMES BROOKS

FORMER ENGLAND 7s, NORTHAMPTON, WASPS AND LEEDS FLY-HALF

IT’s funny how things go full circle. I started my pro rugby career in Rugby League in 1997/98 with London Broncos and we trained at St Mary’s University, where I’m currently coaching alongside my role at Old Elthamians in National One.

Not being the biggest of blokes, the 18 months I spent in League served me well. Every other week we’d go up north to play an academy game and the northern lads would try and knock hell out of us.

That definitely got my defence on point.

I loved my time in League, but I felt I needed to get back into the code that I’d started playing as a mini at Henley. Northampton offered me a trial and after about a month, living a student lifestyle in a shared, seven-bedroom house, I was given a first team contract.

Although we lost, I had a bit of a dream debut for Saints against Bath at The Rec. I scored a try and played the full 80 and felt I more than held my own.

The following year I played a fair bit at 10 with Grays (Paul Grayson) at full-back but after that I floated between 9, 10 and the wing as Wayne Smith gave me a bit of a free role. Playing opposite Vincent Clerc in the 2003 Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse was an insane experience for me.

In hindsight, I wished I’d worked harder on becoming a higher percentage goalkicker. But with Grays in the team, it felt like there was no need. Had I had that string to my bow, who knows I might have got more opportunities from thereon in. Instead, Shane Drahm tended to be preferred at 10.

Alan Solomons came in when Wayne left to go back to New Zealand, and I was one of 17 players released. I signed for Bedford and did a couple of training sessions with them before I got a call from Wasps. They were off to Poland for their ice chamber treatment the next day and wanted me to join them, straight away.

I jumped at the chance and, thankfully, Bedford, were very understanding.

That first season I was involved in every Premiership game as Kingy’s (Alex King) backup.

That’s when Wasps were flying and won the Premiership (I came on in the 2005 final), Heineken and Anglo-Welsh and it was an incredible journey.

I got offered another 3- year contract, but the next two seasons were ruined by persistent groin issues.

The day after our Heineken Cup win against Leicester, things turned sour and an internal matter led to me making the decision to leave the club with a year left on my contract. t Leeds were recruiting after winning promotion and it was great working under Lanny (Stuart Lancaster) – I’ve got a lot of time for him and it’s great to see him doing so well at Leinster.

I was fortunate to not only be coached by so many great coaches but also see the world whilst representing my country as an England 7s international.

It may not have been 15s, but it was an England jersey nonetheless and is something I am extremely proud of.

After leaving Leeds I went to Doncaster. Things didn’t really work out there. I was going through a divorce at the time, the commute was a grind and the coaching was oldschool, and not in a good way. From there, it was back south and a playercoach role with Richmond, who were climbing back up through the leagues.

Spells with Kowloon in Hong Kong and North Walsham followed and I’m now enjoying being part of a new venture at Old E’s and St Mary’s. Mike Friday got in contact with me about it. He thinks the American-type Collegiate set-up is the way to go, and hopefully it can keep building year on year and guys will leave Uni debtfree and with a degree and possibly a full-time rugby contract.

– as told to Jon Newcombe