20 Questions: Mike Denbee – London Welsh flanker
I’ve certainly gone the long way round… Weston to Plymouth to Spain to Birmingham & Solihull, and now to the Prem with London Welsh. The season before last I was relegated with Birmingham… so it’s been quite a 12 months!
How important were your two years at Plymouth Albion?
Vital. I went to Plymouth University to do a degree and next thing I know I’ve been picked up by Graham Dawe and I’m making my debut against Northampton and Carlos Spencer.
Graham Dawe’s out of rugby right now… surprised?
Yes… he’s a great talent spotter. We’ve got an ex-Plymouth crew at London Welsh in myself, Alex Davies, James Tideswell and Tom Arscott and there are fair numbers elsewhere.
Tense about playing Leicester next week?
To be honest, no. We’ve just been getting on with pre-season. But suddenly we’ll be running out in front of a huge crowd at the Kassam and nerves might kick-in.
How are Gavin Henson and Sonny Parker shaping up?
They’re fully focussed, minds on the job. They work hard and they’re the last guys off the training paddock.
Biggest joker?
Lee Beach. Always messing around and has shocking banter.
Cleverest player?
Martin Purdy, who has a first in engineering from Cambridge. He’s just managed to teach himself French in a weekend.
Tightest player?
That would be me. I never buy a coffee, round or anything. I’m a farmer and you’ve got to look after the pennies.
Best and worst trainers?
Best is Gordon Ross. He leads by example and to be still going strong at 45 is impressive! The worst is James Tideswell… he’s always on the physio’s table.
Biggest moaner?
Any of the Welsh contingent! No, wait a minute… it’s Joe Ajuwa. He moans about everything… weather, kit, food, missus, the lot.
Worst and best dressed?
Mike Powell’s just gone but he was the worst… notably the all-white ensemble with sandals he wore to Paul Mackey’s stag do. Best dressed is Alex Davies, who’s always up with the latest fashion and endulges his feminine side by reading the glamour mags.
Food and drink?
Love a fillet steak washed down with a pint of Thatcher’s cider. I live 10 minutes from the Thatcher’s plant in Somerset and many’s the time I’ve stopped off for a 50-pint barrel.
Teenage rugby idol?
No one. I didn’t start playing rugby until I was 16 as I always played football.
Played football for who… and which team do you support?
I played for Wedmore Juniors, then Chedder FC… and I support Bristol City.
Team-mate you’ve been slightly afraid of?
Semisi Taulava. He is not someone you want running over you in training.
Tell us something we don’t know about Lyn Jones?
He rocks up for training wearing one boot and one trainer! He’s the funniest man ever, currently perfecting his Canadian accent so he can converse with Phil McKenzie.
Love and hate about rugby?
Love the chance to play the sport I love professionally. Hate players who fritter away their talent and then moan about it.
Plans for using your business degree?
I’m working alongside rugby for a sports nutrition company, Ironscience UK. It’s going well and might be something I could look at full-time after rugby.
Rugby ambitions?
My goal was to get my granddad to see me playing in the Premiership, so, fingers crossed, there’s a good chance that will happen.
You know you’ll be written off?
Yes, but the Championship‘s a lot stronger than people think and the perfect model is Exeter. We’re putting targets in place to build and hopefully we can cause a few upsets.
