So Scott another league season is about to kick off for the Kilburn Cosmos, looking forward to it?
I've pretty much been counting the days since the end of last season
How well prepared do you think the Cosmos are for the season?
We could be a lot better prepared, a few more consistent faces at training would be good
Any differences from last year?
Yeah a few of the Kiwi stalwarts of the last season have returned to New Zealand, so we are looking at a few new faces in key positions
And how do you rate the Cosmos chances in the league?
If we have scored more points then the opposition then we stand a good chance of winning
What teams do you think will be the main contenders?
It was a close competition last year so we'll have to wait a round or three to see how things stand
Kilburn have lost a lot of key players – Bernard, Boyd, Paul Nolan amongst others – how big a loss do you think these players will be and who do you see filling their shoes?
Well Boyd & Bernard leave huge shoes to fill, we have Glenn Cunninghame coming back from injury this season and he is a solid option at 13 for Boyd, but I really see Peter Donaldson stepping up and making a claim for a position in the centres. Guys like Declan Magee & Aly Bursay I think will step up and assume that leadership role vacated by the big man Bernard. Hopefully we can discover another talent like Paul Nolan from amongst the new boys
Any other players we should look out for that can make a difference this year?
Another new boy Paul Ledington at lock I think will add a bit of size and power to the engine room and Chris Garvey I think, playing in his more natural position of fullback this year should really show us what he is capable of.
Bit of background on you – where are you from, who have you played for, what brings you to the UK?
Originally from the Waikato in New Zealand but finished off in Southland. Played for "about half" the clubs in Southland I think (Otautau, Ohai Nightcaps, Midlands, Blues, Wyndham & Eastern Hawks) I moved around a bit, as well as a stint at Alhambra Union while at Uni. I came to the UK to see Liz & Phil, they live near Green Park tube in an old house at the end of the street with a great big fountain in front of it
And how did you find the Cosmos?
They had preseason training down at the local park and I spotted the guy from the tube with the cauliflower ears (Bernard) and realised I must be in the right place, I knew it was the club for me when after my second training Phil Morgan turned up in a Southland jersey to a chorus of 'Phil is a horses a*se'
How have you enjoyed your Cosmos experience so far? This is your 3rd season and 2nd as Captain so you must enjoy it!
Probably the best thing I did when I came to the UK was join the Cosmos. Sad thing is my life pretty much revolves around the rugby club
What's the best thing about the Cosmos?
Our flexibility on player availability
And the worst?
Our flexibility on player availability. No make that the Cosmos who don't show up to trainng
Couple of easy ones to finish – who is your rugby idol, funniest Cosmo, most annoying Cosmos, favourite player to play alongside?
Duane Monkley, the greatest rugby player never to wear an All Black jersey
Funniest Cosmo: John Fenlon the man from Manchester
Most Annoying Cosmos: John Fenlon the Durban breaker
Favourite player to play alongside: Kingi in Lithuania, first time I've every scored 3 tries in a game let alone 20mins and all on the back of barnstorming runs by the fingerless one
Thanks
No thank you
I've pretty much been counting the days since the end of last season
How well prepared do you think the Cosmos are for the season?
We could be a lot better prepared, a few more consistent faces at training would be good
Any differences from last year?
Yeah a few of the Kiwi stalwarts of the last season have returned to New Zealand, so we are looking at a few new faces in key positions
And how do you rate the Cosmos chances in the league?
If we have scored more points then the opposition then we stand a good chance of winning
What teams do you think will be the main contenders?
It was a close competition last year so we'll have to wait a round or three to see how things stand
Kilburn have lost a lot of key players – Bernard, Boyd, Paul Nolan amongst others – how big a loss do you think these players will be and who do you see filling their shoes?
Well Boyd & Bernard leave huge shoes to fill, we have Glenn Cunninghame coming back from injury this season and he is a solid option at 13 for Boyd, but I really see Peter Donaldson stepping up and making a claim for a position in the centres. Guys like Declan Magee & Aly Bursay I think will step up and assume that leadership role vacated by the big man Bernard. Hopefully we can discover another talent like Paul Nolan from amongst the new boys
Any other players we should look out for that can make a difference this year?
Another new boy Paul Ledington at lock I think will add a bit of size and power to the engine room and Chris Garvey I think, playing in his more natural position of fullback this year should really show us what he is capable of.
Bit of background on you – where are you from, who have you played for, what brings you to the UK?
Originally from the Waikato in New Zealand but finished off in Southland. Played for "about half" the clubs in Southland I think (Otautau, Ohai Nightcaps, Midlands, Blues, Wyndham & Eastern Hawks) I moved around a bit, as well as a stint at Alhambra Union while at Uni. I came to the UK to see Liz & Phil, they live near Green Park tube in an old house at the end of the street with a great big fountain in front of it
And how did you find the Cosmos?
They had preseason training down at the local park and I spotted the guy from the tube with the cauliflower ears (Bernard) and realised I must be in the right place, I knew it was the club for me when after my second training Phil Morgan turned up in a Southland jersey to a chorus of 'Phil is a horses a*se'
How have you enjoyed your Cosmos experience so far? This is your 3rd season and 2nd as Captain so you must enjoy it!
Probably the best thing I did when I came to the UK was join the Cosmos. Sad thing is my life pretty much revolves around the rugby club
What's the best thing about the Cosmos?
Our flexibility on player availability
And the worst?
Our flexibility on player availability. No make that the Cosmos who don't show up to trainng
Couple of easy ones to finish – who is your rugby idol, funniest Cosmo, most annoying Cosmos, favourite player to play alongside?
Duane Monkley, the greatest rugby player never to wear an All Black jersey
Funniest Cosmo: John Fenlon the man from Manchester
Most Annoying Cosmos: John Fenlon the Durban breaker
Favourite player to play alongside: Kingi in Lithuania, first time I've every scored 3 tries in a game let alone 20mins and all on the back of barnstorming runs by the fingerless one
Thanks
No thank you
