Dream Team with Rich Vasey

Rich Vasey, the Caldy backs/attack coach and former fly-half chooses the best XV he has played with or against…

1. Mike MacDonald – Played at Leeds with Mike, a USA international, who was fantastic around the pitch for a big guy and a top guy off it as well. A typically laidback Californian.

2. Rob Rawlinson – A cornerstone of the Leeds dressing room for many years. Led by example on the pitch and a fantastic team-mate.

3. Nathan Williams – Played with Nathan at Moseley. Had amazing handling skills for a prop whilst still being as strong as an ox. Great in the bar afterwards also!

4. Kearnan Myall – Played at Leeds with Kearnan from a young age. Freakish athletic ability, faster than a back and with hands to match. Went on to have a great career in the Premiership.

5. Tom Sanders – Played with Tom at Caldy, where he came into the first team at 18 in a tough position. Hard as nails, fantastic work rate and incredibly humble.

6. Neil Mason – ‘Wag’ was Moseley captain when we won the EDF Trophy. Freakishly strong for somebody who never went to the gym. Unrelenting work rate and thrived in tough conditions.

7. Martin Schusterman – Argentinian international I played with at Leeds. Classy, intelligent player who provided a great link with the backline. Lovely guy off the field as well, very understated. Honourable mention to ex-Moseley back row, Richie Bignell.

8. JJ Dickinson – Current Caldy captain who has overseen back-to-back promotions to the Championship. Such wide knowledge of the game, like having a coach on the field at times. Team social secretary cements his place. Rhys Oakley can count himself unlucky to miss out.

Backs

9. Danny Care – Played with Danny in the Leeds academy prior to him joining Harlequins. It was not difficult to see at such a young age how far he would go. A privilege to play with him, made my job at fly-half far easier when he played!

10. Carlos Spencer – I played against him when I was on loan at Rotherham against Northampton. We were well beaten that day and he pulled out every trick in his locker to entertain the Franklin’s Gardens crowd!

11. Tom Biggs – Played with Biggsy at Leeds from academy through to 1st team. A bundle of energy on the field, not so much off it! Best kick chaser and broken field runner I have seen.

12. Sean Woof – Played with Sean at Caldy for a couple of seasons. Intelligent and physical on the field, bought me lots of time at 10. Ridiculously laid back guy! Honourable mention to Luther Burrell.

13. Jack Adams – Full range of skills and so relaxed on the pitch. Great guy. It was so sad to hear of his passing a few years ago. Cross-coder Jonny Hepworth and the ever-so-talented Henry Trinder were other contenders.

14. Nick Royle – Played with Nick at Caldy and he still doing a fantastic job; defies his years. The best try-scoring record I have seen. Pace to burn and a natural finisher. Strange array of hobbies, though.

15. Leigh Hinton – Metronomic kicker, extremely calm under pressure and very intelligent attacker. Leigh was a great source of support for a young 10 making his way at Leeds.