20 Questions: Will Welch – Newcastle captain

Sum up your season so far?
It’s been exciting back in the Premiership. We’re happy with where we are but we’ve missed a few opportunities and need two or three more wins.
Big Christmas then?
Huge. We’ve got Wasps and Sale over consecutive weekends and hopefully we’ll get a couple of big home crowds. We want to pull away from the bottom.
Enjoy being captain?
Yes. Last season was my first year and I learnt a lot because I was only 22. This season it’s more second nature and it’s good having senior players around.
Very young to be made Falcons skipper?
Dean Richards wanted a home-grown player, although he did say if we’d been in the Premiership last season it would probably have been someone else. Being in the Championship gave me a bit of breathing space.
Did being in tier two help others?
Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Dean’s a big fan of blooding younger players and it was a good year for him to build the squad.
Where did you start out in rugby?
In the minis at Northern RFC. I then played at RGS Newcastle before joining the Newcastle academy at 15. I still go and see Northern now and again.
Boyhood rugby hero?
Easy… Jonny Wilkinson. I used to watch him when I was young and then saw him train close up when I was in the academy. A legend in these parts.
How do you chill-out?
Just normal things like having a coffee or doing some shopping in the Metrocentre. I’m also doing a business degree course through the RPA which keeps me busy. A few of us go to the library together to get our assignments done.
If not rugby, what would you have done?
I’d have followed through with my history degree and probably then switched into Law. It’s something I’ve always been interested in.
Who do you lodge with?
Chris York. He’s pretty tidy around the house and we’ll sometimes cook for each other. My speciality is spaghetti Bolognese.
Best places visited?
Rugby-wise, Argentina for the 2010 Junior World Cup. And for a normal holiday I’d say Barbados, which was a really interesting place.
Some good names in that U20s side?
Yes. We had Freddie Burns, Jonny May, Christian Wade, Rory Clegg, Jamie George, Joe Marler, Jamie Gibson and Mako Vunipola…
Still harbour England ambitions?
Every player wants to play for their country and I’m no different. It’s about working hard for your club and anything after that is a bonus.
Biggest games you’ve played?
The Championship finals last season, because of how big it was and the pressure. Four matches, winner takes all… and sheer relief at the end.
Pet hates and annoyances?
Arrogance… people who are too cocksure of themselves without reason to be. And impatient motorists who beep at me… aaargh!
Anything in rugby you’d change?
The choke tackle and scrum for the opposite side is very negative and just slows the game down. And there’s now too much onus on the TMO; you’re standing around for two or three minutes, which is ridiculous.
Places you’d like to visit?
Las Vegas. Lads who’ve been say they had the time of their lives so I’m booked in for next year! I’d also like to visit Australia and New Zealand.
Best and worst banter at Falcons?
Best is Scott MacLeod… a top character and laugh-a-minute. Worst by a long way is Alex Tait… a real Mr Miserable who’s like an old granddad.
Best and worst dressed?
Scott MacLeod is again my best. He tries very hard and his taste in loud T-shirts is unrivalled. Worst is Oliver Tomaszczyk, who doesn’t know how to dress himself and wears string vests and tucks his trousers in his socks.
Realistic hopes for the season?
To consolidate where we are and try and jump a few more places. That would represent a very solid first campaign back in the Premiership.