20 Questions: Ed Jackson – London Welsh No.8

Still pinching yourself about playing in the Premiership?
A little bit. You keep looking up and seeing international players you’ve only seen on TV before, but once you get into the match it’s just another game of rugby.
Feel out of place personally?
No. I’m quite happy. I like the pace of the games. It’s more challenging than last year but I don’t feel out of my depth.
Used to be in Bath‘s academy, didn’t you?
Yes. Seems a long time ago and I’m a different player now. I understand why I was let go but it’s nice to prove yourself capable of playing at this standard.
Why did you leave?
I wasn’t getting much game time in Bath’s first XV so I made a decision to drop into the Championship in order to progress. It worked!
Childhood rugby idol?
I was a Bath supporter as a kid and used to love watching our American No.8 Dan Lyle. Everything he did was outside the box, like throwing 40-metre American Football-style passes.
How do you chill-out?
I go fishing with my old man as much as possible. At weekend’s we’ll just go to Dorset but every off-season we’ll go somewhere different like Canada or Mexico.
Other sports you enjoy watching?
I played lots of cricket so I’ll always watch that. I also like golf and American Football. I’m a San Diego Charger’s fan. Phil Mackenzie and Sonny Parker watch NFL too.
Play any other sports?
I play a fair bit of golf but not that well. Gordon Ross is the king-pin there and he plays off a 4 or 5 handicap. Rossy’s pretty good at everything he tries.
Where do you live?
Clapham, with the missus and Billy Moss, one of our props. He’s a good lad, although he’s got a very dry sense of humour my girlfriend struggles to get to grips with.
Enjoy eating out?
Love my food and wherever we can get a deal, we’ll be there! I’ll eat anything and there are lots of Thai/Pan-Asian restaurants in Clapham which I like.
Any odd superstitions?
A really weird one, which my girlfriend enjoys, is where I have to have the bed perfectly made before I leave for training or a game. I don’t know where that came from.
Rugby superstitions?
I’ll put my strappings on in the same order and if I have a good game I’ll wear the same pair of lifting blocks for the next match. If not, I’ll bin them and make a new pair.
Exiles player you’d hate to be stuck in a lift with?
Our captain, Jonathan Mills. He gets hungry so quickly that you’d be in danger of cannibalism.
Best and worst trainers?
Gordon Ross is the best. He’s the oldest but he’s always first out and last in… the best pro I’ve known. Worst is our French loosehead, Franck Montanella, who’s just a ‘team run and play’ guy.
Best and worst dressed?
Matt Corker’s the worst… trademark lock with functional trainers, jeans and shirt. Best is Daniel Browne, who never looks anything less than pin-sharp.
Guilty pleasures?
I watch all the reality TV shows like MTV’s Geordie Shore, which is about 10 Geordies stuck in a house, and Made in Chelsea, a similar thing on E4.
Another sportsman you’d like to be?
Tom Brady, quarter-back of the New England Patriots. He’s dominated his sport more than any other and it’s a team sport I like.
Tell us something unusual about your head coach Lyn Jones?
There’s plenty! He’s got a serious problem with people with bad breath and we’ve had a team meeting this year that was a 15-minute lecture on how to brush your teeth properly.
Biggest bugbear about living in London?
Sunday traffic! It breaks me. It took me two hours to travel six miles for Sunday lunch last week, but if you try to get the train all the lines are closed. You’re stuffed either way.
Ambitions for Exiles this season?
To stay in the Premiership and challenge ourselves to be safe as soon as possible and then move up the table. No complacency.