DREAM TEAM
RHYS HAYES, THE CHESTER HEAD COACH AND FORMER CHESTER, CALDY, CHESHIRE & ENGLAND COUNTIES FLY-HALF/FULL-BACK CHOOSES THE BEST XV HE HAS PLAYED WITH OR AGAINST…
1. Joe Sproston – Played age group rugby at Mold and then was lucky enough to play with him at Caldy. Had hands of a fly-half. Hell of an athlete. Ridiculously good bloke and rugby player.
2. Ollie Hearn – Former Caldy team-mate and try machine. Like having another back-rower on the pitch with his pace around the pitch. Throws good arrows, too.
3. James Whitelock-Wainwright – ‘Rammers’ was the rock in our scrum at Chester. Fantastic bloke and still playing Chester 2nds at the age of 45!
4. Sam Dickinson – Lucky enough to play with him at Caldy following retirement from professional rugby at Northampton. A true leader with his actions around the pack.
5. Nile Dacres – Played England Counties with him and against him while he was a Coventry. Fantastic athlete. Dominated the lineout and an all-round good bloke!
6. Mike Craven – Played at Chester with him when he returned from Hartpury. Should have played more at the highest level but Cravens don’t leave Chester! Turnover king!
7. Richard De Carpentier –Played with him at university… was always going to make it. Speed, power and unbelievable skill set for a back rower. Had a fantastic England 7s career.
8. JJ Dickinson – Had to move DC to 7 to ensure Captain Fantastic was at 8. Ultimate leader and fantastic all-round player. Been the stalwart of the Caldy 1st team for so many years with over 300 appearances.
9. Pete White – Played England Counties with him and against him numerous times in the Champ. Speed and accuracy of pass was next level and always a threat. On-field general who has tremendous rugby IQ.
10. Jack Lavin –Played alongside him during our first National League 2 campaign. Cannon most of the times we played of a boot and won us so Pirates! many games out of nothing.
12. Lloyd Hayes – Got to An awful injury stopped him put my brother in. Still has achieving so much more in try-scoring record in one season for Chester. Was lucky the game.
11. Robin Wedlake – Another who I played England while on return from injury to get a few games with him Counties with. He had with Doncaster. Fantastic the lot: speed, power, good runner in open play. Ability looks… and was a ridiculous to beat players one on one finisher! Thankfully and all-round skill set.
13. Gavin Rob Caldy Royle legend and goal-kicking machine. Everything looked effortless and should have played at the highest level, but enjoyed golf too much.
14. Nick Royle – No better finisher in National League rugby ever, and still doing it in his early 40s in the Championship at Caldy. Known for his chip-and-chase ability. Played England 7s. Total legend.
15. Dan Bibby – Lucky to have played with him at university and then a season at Caldy in the Champ. Ridiculous athlete; had it all with his skillset and can play anywhere in the backline. To have a GB Olympian in the team rounds things off nicely.
