20 Questions: Harry Randall – England U20s scrum-half
Very well. We had a tough camp in Guildford last week and everyone is looking sharp now and looking forward to it.
Have you started looking at the lineups of Australia, Samoa and Wales yet?
A little bit but we’ll do a lot more when it comes down to it before each of the three pool games. Our analysts are doing a great job getting videos to look through which isn’t always easy for southern hemisphere teams.
What’s been the message from Dean Ryan and the coaches?
The same as during the Six Nations really. They told us to keep doing what we’re doing well and take each game it comes out there.
Confident you can defend your title?
There hasn’t been any talk about that. We’re pretty confident going into the tournament but what happened last year with a different team is in the past. We’ll concentrate on this year.
You were very young last year in Manchester?
I was still U18s but I was called up as injury replacement. Hopefully I can bring some of that experience into the squad with the other players that played in Manchester last year too.
Enjoyed your season so far?
I’ve had quite a successful season playing a lot of rugby for Hartpury College and Gloucester in the A-League.
Three trophies already?
Yes, I won the National League One and the BUCS championship with Hartpury as well as the Six Nations with England. I nearly got a fourth in the A-League but we lost in the final against Northampton.
Best memory of the season?
Scoring the winning try in the BUCS final at Twickenham was a great moment but it’s hard to bring it down to just one moment to be honest. I’ve really enjoyed the season with plenty of memories.
Good learning experience?
Yes it was my first taste of men’s rugby so it was great to get so much game time in National One under my belt. Hopefully I can take this experience towards next season.
What do you need to work on?
The coaches have been happy with how I have gone this season but I need to work on controlling the game a little bit better, especially when the game is not so fast.
How did Hartpury manage to go the whole National One campaign unbeaten?
Well we did have a very good team and the fast-running game of rugby we play helped us break teams down. The concentration and commitment from everyone to maintain the record was great.
Can they survive in the Championship?
I think so and I hope to get some game time with them again. It’d be good for me to move up a league but with the same team. The opposition will be a lot tougher but I hope we can still play the running rugby we love.
Any regrets from not making your Premiership debut with Gloucester?
Not at all. We’ve got a lot of good scrum-halves at the club so I’ve got to be patient. Maybe I’ll get a chance next year. With Greig Laidlaw leaving I might move up the pecking order but I’m not focussing on it too much.
What would be another good season for you?
Just to keep getting a lot of game time with Hartpury. That’s my main aim as a young player and maybe more A-League. The Gloucester first team might be a good target for the following season.
Are you still studying?
Yes I’ve just finished my BTEC at Hartpury.
Dream job outside rugby?
I’ve looked into it a bit and I’d have liked to be a primary school sports teacher so that might be something I’ll try to do in the coming years.
Favourite cheat meal?
I’m usually pretty good with my diet but if I had to pick one I’d go for a Texas BBQ pizza from Domino’s.
Three special dinner guests?
That’s a tough question but I’ll go for boxer Floyd Mayweather, actor Tom Hardy and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Best and worst banter in the England U20s squad?
The big lock Josh Caulfield is a bit of an idiot and he cracks me up. My Gloucester academy teammate Alex Seville has no chat though.
Best and worst dressed?
I’d have to say myself for the best dressed but Zach Mercer has no fashion sense at all.
