Stop-gap Karl Dickson wants a permanent place now
Twice this year the 30-year-old pivot has cut short foreign vacations to answer pleas from England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
He was in Jamaica last March when called up as Six Nations cover; and in June he abandoned his family in Spain after being summoned Down Under to tour South Africa following injury to Ben Youngs
Dickson, right, featured in England’s second midweek match against the South African Barbarians, but his selflessness went unrewarded when Lancaster omitted his name from the England senior and Saxons squads selected in July.
Undaunted, the ever-enthusiastic Dickson is determined to fight his way back into contention through his performances for Quins.
He told The Rugby Paper: “It’s bizarre what’s happened. I got summoned back from Jamaica after a day, and in June I’d only been in Spain for about 45 minutes when I got the call.
“I was with our hooker, Joe Gray, in Jamaica and had to leave him out there. And in June we’d flown to Alicante and were on the way to the villa when I got the call and literally had to turn round and get the last flight back.
“I was with the missus and her family so it wasn’t the best news for them, but she was OK and was happy for me to join up with England.
“It’s great representing England, especially with my brother (Lee) involved as well, and it’s a dream come true after being at Bedford three or four years ago.
“I’m disappointed not to have made either of the squads, but I spoke to Stuart and understand his reasons. It’s the fact that I’m not No.1 at my club and other boys like Joe Simpson and Richard Wigglesworth are playing week in, week out.
“That’s fair enough, it’s up to me now to prove him wrong and that he’s made a bad decision. I’ll be working very hard and that’s all I can do.”
Dickson’s misfortune is being pitted against Danny Care at Quins at a time when England’s scrum-half reserves are impressively well stocked elsewhere too.
Fighting his way past Care, Youngs, Simpson, Wigglesworth and brother Lee looks a thankless task, but Lancaster was on hand to see Dickson lay on a virtuoso first-half display against London Welsh recently and the incentive is clear.
“I’m really proud of Lee and what he’s achieved, and I believe he should have been recognised earlier,” Dickson said. “I want to emulate him and compete as much as I can for an England place. I feel like I’ve come of age and have got better.”
Meanwhile, Dickson has noted the progress of ex-Bedford colleague Will Chudley, who has impressed at scrum-half for Exeter.
He believes other good players are ready to emerge from the Championship but says the league deserves better coverage.
Dickson added: “Chudders was my No.2 at Bedford so I know him really well. He had reservations about going to Exeter but I said, ‘listen, they’re a good club, get down there’.
“He’s been first choice and I’m proud of him; two boys from Bedford who’ve come up and done well in the Premiership.
“I believe there are more boys in the Championship who could come up and compete, but the league needs more coverage.
“There should be more Championship games on TV – that’s the only way people are going to get noticed.”
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