20 Questions: Mark Bright – London Scottish No.8
Yes, even if I can’t do much until my wife and kids are off school. She’s a teacher so we’ll look to shoot away when they break up.
How’s the body feeling?
Pretty good to be fair. It held up during the season so I’m just going to have a couple of weeks off before I start training again to keep ticking over before pre-season with Ealing starts.
Not one to rest too much then?
No because once I stop I think I’ll stop for good. So it’s all about keeping the body ticking over because it’d probably be too hard to get going again.
You used to play all year around in the past didn’t you?
I did that for eight years playing the English season and then going back to New Zealand during the summer. I pretty much played a game per week but my last season in New Zealand was in 2011.
How do you look back at London Scottish season?
It didn’t go how we wanted it to. Finishing in the bottom half of the table wasn’t what we set out to do but we weren’t consistent enough being good one week and bad the next.
What do you put it down to after reaching the play-offs last year?
I’m not sure. We lost both home and away so we can’t blame that. We just didn’t perform week-in week-out. We lost a few games on the trot before Christmas and we were on the back foot after that.
Probably not how you wanted to end your time at the club?
It’s sad to leave but it is what it is. People move on and that’s the nature of professional sport. But I’m looking forward to the challenge with Ealing Trailfinders.
Was it a tough decision to leave Scottish?
I didn’t have much choice to be honest but Ealing put in a very good offer. All I want to do is play rugby and I’ll be able to do that next season so I’m happy.
The end of an era?
It is and to be honest there are a lot of lads leaving the club this summer. A lot of us joined when the club won promotion to the Championship but there won’t be many left next
season.
You must be delighted Ealing managed to avoid relegation?
There were a few heart in the mouth moments but they finished the season really strongly with wins against Jersey and Rotherham. They have a great set-up there and I’m looking forward to start pre-season.
How long will your body hang on?
I’ve signed for two years with an option for a third year. My body is feeling good so we’ll see how I fell in two years but I want to play for as long as I can. Being paid to play rugby is quite a nice life so I want to do it for as long as I can.
Is playing at 40 a target of yours?
Yes! I spoke to Paul Tupai who’s signed a new deal at Bedford at 41 and he’s told me to keep going for as long as my body was okay.
What about your try-scoring record at Scottish?
I think I ended up with 81 tries in 123 games which is not too bad I suppose.
What’s behind your try celebration?
A couple of years ago, someone called it a lion but it’s actually a griffin which is on Nelson Bay’s jersey. That’s where I was born and a few guys started doing it after scoring so I thought I’d do the same in England.
Have you thought about life after rugby yet?
Not really. My wife Andrea and the kids are pretty settled here so hopefully something will come up. I’ll probably have to sit down with her soon and decide what I’ll do once I retire.
Any ideas?
I am a qualified engineer and I’ve done that when I was semi-professional back in New Zealand. I could go back to that but I’m not sure I want to do it anymore.
Favourite cheat meal?
I’m pretty good during the week but I do like a curry here and there or something after the game.
Three dinner guests?
Usain Bolt, Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson.
Best and worst banter at Scottish?
Josh Thomas Brown rates himself as a bit of a joker and to be fair no one was that bad.
Best and worst dressed?
Miles Mantella prides himself on his dress sense but Josh clearly doesn’t.
