36 retires at the age of 35

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Puja
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36 retires at the age of 35

Post by Puja »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... gedey0vydo

Goldington Road finishing school legend leaving the game :(. Worked very hard to come back from being rejected by Tigers' academy and then go on to have a pretty decent career, all things told. Such a good player when he was on top form.

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FKAS
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by FKAS »

Never quite fulfilled his potential, I always thought whilst he was very good there was just another step for him that would raise his game up proper international level.

Quite frankly I'd take him as a squad depth player at Tigers next season give our lack of flyhalf cover currently.
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Mr Mwenda
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by Mr Mwenda »

Part of the legendary Wigglesworth, Launchbury and Twelve trees holy trinity of names.

Pulborough's finest!
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Mellsblue
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by Mellsblue »

A missed opportunity.
Loved watching him play - the rugby playing definition of ‘from the sublime to the ridiculous’. Oh for one more season at GR. imagine a Booj - 12T centre partnership *insert numerous aubergine emojis here*
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by Banquo »

FKAS wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 7:47 pm Never quite fulfilled his potential, I always thought whilst he was very good there was just another step for him that would raise his game up proper international level.

Quite frankly I'd take him as a squad depth player at Tigers next season give our lack of flyhalf cover currently.
too young, surely?
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Oakboy
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by Oakboy »

Did England get the best out of him? Hands as good as his should have produced more with the right backing/coaching. Worse players than him have done well at centre for Wales and Scotland, for example.
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by fivepointer »

FKAS wrote: Fri Jun 28, 2024 7:47 pm Never quite fulfilled his potential, I always thought whilst he was very good there was just another step for him that would raise his game up proper international level.

Quite frankly I'd take him as a squad depth player at Tigers next season give our lack of flyhalf cover currently.
He was just off top level. Seemed to have all the qualities but a lack of composure was a real weakness i thought.

Pity as he looked very good at times.
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Which Tyler
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Re: 36 retires at the age of 35

Post by Which Tyler »

Billy's downsides were never about his skills with a rugby ball, all about the psychology.
Capable of throwing a 40m double miss-pass for the winger to take at pace and without breaking stride, wide of the defence one minute, to then fail to hit a barn door with a 3m pass the next.

He's someone I just wish a decent sports psychologist had got their hands on as a teenager, but lived in a time where that would still have been an admission of failure and source of ridicule.
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