Professional Players You Have Played With/Against

From the ashes of the 606v2 user teams rises a thread to ask the simple question - have you played with or against any players (in any generation) thats worth mentioning here - tell us how the game went as well!

I'll start - played openside against a young Stephen Jones (wales 10 not wanna be reporter), we won the game but i can't remember much more than that!

I played in and around the midlands at the same time as the likes of Wood, Cole etc would have been around. Don't know if I actually faced any of them but it is very likely I played against Tom Wood because of our respective ages and the clubs we played for (he was a Barkers Butts player through the age groups) where as I played for Loughborough from 6 to 16.

hmm no one really of note. I played alongside ex Ulster and Northampton centre Seamus Mallon at school. I hope he doesn't read this...

I think I may have played against (or at least shared a field with) Roger Wilson at some stage but not 100% sure on that. Pretty sure we lost anyway....

Had the pleasure of playing against Cipriani, Cato and Haskell on seperate occasions. Cipriani was electric, Cato was a monster crash 12, with a huge boot and Haskell gave me the old Samoan sidestep at Rosslyn Park 7s, but I hung on to his knees and brought him down.

Two mates went on to play for many prem teams including Glos and Irish, now playing for Bristol and Doncaster.

I recently played in a 7s tournament at University and a friend of mine convinced his old team mate Rory Watts-Jones to play for us. He was at Plymouth Albion and now he's at Cardiff Blues I do believe? He was awesome, and had a HUGE hand off

Off the top of my head, Haskell, Thom Evans and PDJ.
I remember going for a pick and drive, went into PDJ and didnt make much ground at all!

Rick Pool-Jones is the best player I played against in the same position as me. If he could have ever been arsed he would have had an awesome England career, but he enjoyed life too much.

In any position, Tony Underwood is probably the best player I played with (and against).

Bathman - you played wellington college as well then! I might have played one of the Evans, but don't remember, didn't stand out as much as Haskell, but was only 7s

I managed 1 match (I was promoted due to injuries to a couple of other guys) at lock for the Marlborough Boys College 1st XV. Future ABs captain and hooker Anton Oliver was #8 while future ABs fullback Leon MacDonald was our #10.

Anton managed to break my finger in 4th form, but that was playing cricket (he had already made the 1st XI bowling fast left-arm)

well being 17 havent played against any current or former, but played with a u16 capped wales player against him aswell and two others- and i am pretty sure the one i have played with will make it, he is immense. currently at the tigers acadamey as he choose to join them rather than stay with rgc- he is 16/17 now but couple years time...

My brother played against the Wellington College 1st XV side in 2003 that had Haskell, Doran-Jones and Thom Evans.

Funnily enough, his team got pasted!

Against - Leigh Halfpenny(Swansea College), Toby Faletau(Crosskeys RFC), Gareth Maule(St Albans 6th form), Gareth Owen, Dan Biggar(Bridgend College). There may be more, but were unknown to me at the time. They were all very good players at their young ages too.

Gareth Archer. It was an unpleasent experience..

I was in the same class throughout school with Emyr Lewis (son of Alan Lewis former Scarlets coach) who played for Pontypridd and Bedford amongst others. He was the closest player to Mark Ring I've ever seen. Whether we won or lost often depended on whether he could be arsed.

I played under 11 district with Shane Williams. He was a year younger than the rest of us. He was a good scrum half, strong, quick and a good tackler, but afraid of bridges.

I played against Stephen Jones. We got smashed. He was an inside centre then and he and the outside centre were fantastic. I don't know what happened to him though.

I also played in the sane school first XV as Aled Griffiths, Pontypridd abd Wales A. Too tall for a prop really, he was a fantastic footballer in school and was player coach in Ammanford's win of the WRU plate last year.

I also played on the front field with my brother who played for Llandovery, Wrexham (with Andy Moore 2nd row) and English Colleges (with a Welsh athletics vest under his jersey and his hand over the red Rose in the team Photo)

I've played against Steve Thompson and Ben Cohen and oddly neither were anything special. Thompson played flanker in those days.

My brother broke his collar bone tackling Martin bayfield...

Went to Kings High School and played 1sts with Carl Hayman. Josh Kronfeld was one of our coaches. Back in those days you still needed a job as well as playing rugby in NZ. Josh worked as a PE teacher/rugby coach while playing for Otago and NZ.

Played against Richie McCaw (Otago Boys High) on a number of occasions.

Whilst we're name dropping I also played cricket with Nathan and Brendan McCullum. They were also Kings lads.

Micky Young (Same club)
Manu Tuilagi (First time i'v ever been ran over by a wing!)
Callum Green (Leicester touring team)
Will Welch (Knocked me clean out) (Blaydon)
Tom Catterick (County)
Joel Hodgson (County)
Joe Ford (Leeds)
Chris Hydnmen (Billingham)
Rory Clegg (Darlington)
Alex Grey (Barnard School School)

Was in the same county side as Catty and Hodgey. Hodgson played 9 and Catterick at 10 against Yorkshaire in which Joe Ford played

Played 7s against Calum Clark aswell - got owned

And Simon Websters mam and dad live about 20 minutes away from me.

AFewTooManyKnocks wrote:Went to Kings High School and played 1sts with Carl Hayman. Josh Kronfeld was one of our coaches. Back in those days you still needed a job as well as playing rugby in NZ. Josh worked as a PE teacher/rugby coach while playing for Otago and NZ.

Played against Richie McCaw (Otago Boys High) on a number of occasions.

Whilst we're name dropping I also played cricket with Nathan and Brendan McCullum. They were also Kings lads.

You win!

Only 18 so haven't played with current stars, but have played with and against a fair few age group players whatnot.

That I know of I played against Matt Everard the england under 20's and wasps flanker. He looked exactly the same as he does now 4 years ago as an under 16's lad haha! He was everywhere making huge runs and huge tackles. Gave me a good lesson in openside play that day.

Freddie Burns, Guy Mercer, Chris Cook

AFewTooManyKnocks wrote:Went to Kings High School and played 1sts with Carl Hayman. Josh Kronfeld was one of our coaches. Back in those days you still needed a job as well as playing rugby in NZ. Josh worked as a PE teacher/rugby coach while playing for Otago and NZ.

Played against Richie McCaw (Otago Boys High) on a number of occasions.

Whilst we're name dropping I also played cricket with Nathan and Brendan McCullum. They were also Kings lads.

When i read you were from kings i had to comment ....


GRAMMAR !!!!! haha

Played against Henson in U16's (he played for Pencoed). It's no wonder his boot is so good, as all he used to do was kick.

Played in the same Gwent side as Rhys Thomas the tighthead and Andy Powell. Also played youth for a bit with Ryan Jones (at Risca).

Played with and against Richard Hill (U20 & U21)
Against
Matt Dawson
Keryan Bracken
Will Greenwood
Tony Diprose
Ben Clarke
and quite a few of the England team circa 1998 - 2003 in county U21
Oh and while playing for St Athan in a charity game got knocked on my arse several time by some welsh prop who thought he was a centre called Gibbs
Yes It hurt a lot!!!!

My other brother was vice Captain to Ben Clarke in their College team.

As a 16, 17 and 18 year old I played both with and against Stuart Barnes. Even at that age he stood out as a class player. Shame he didn't develop into a better pundit !

Many mooons ago....

Newcastle Falcons 7's competition: Playing for Percy Park as the local invitational side....we had Newcastle, Saints and Leicester.

Played against all sorts...Tony Underwood, Tim Rodber etc etc....

Fabulous experience...

My mate trained with a very young Gethin Jenkins - he got completely outpaced by him running up a hill

but played with a u16 capped wales player against him aswell and two others- and i am pretty sure the one i have played with will make it, he is immense. currently at the tigers acadamey

Who's that. I catch the occasional Tiger academy game sometimes I'll keep an eye out. Those boys are frighteningly big considering how young they are.

Callum Green (Leicester touring team)

A great prospect a couple of years ago. Spent last year on loan at Nottingham and is missing this season to a knee injury.

Played against Fergus Thompson and Ross Ford all through my age grade. Ross Ford was always going to be set for good things. Even as a teenager he was built like the Incredible hulk on steroids.

Fergus Thompson was in direct competition with myself for the Starting berth at 2 for the fife district U18s. I warmed the bench for him for a few years at district level. Can't really argue, he was and still is a classy player.

There's some excellent replies here, so far the leader has to be AFewTooManyKnocks - impressive!

Also, played with and against current Dragons players James Leadbeater and Nathan Buck. Bucky was an Abergavenny boy, but both played for Crosskeys College. Bucky was nothing back then but was picked up for many honours because of his size, he has been about 20 stone since he was 13...

played against Ross Kemp.... does that count?

Played against Neil Jenkins when he played for Ponty youth. They were pretty average but his goal kicking was phenomenal as you'd expect. All I can remember is him popping penalties over from the halfway line for fun. we lost despite them not getting in our 22 for the whole game.

Andrew Sheridan when he was playing at Dulwich collage.....needless to say we got spanked...

inthe small world of South london George Cuter was a couple of years above me at school....

I played in an age group team with Turner-Hall and Cato, also played with John "Hitman" Hathaway from UFC for a season in colts (he was a year above). I've played against Marler at 7s, we actually won the game!

formerly known as Sam wrote:

but played with a u16 capped wales player against him aswell and two others- and i am pretty sure the one i have played with will make it, he is immense. currently at the tigers acadamey

Who's that. I catch the occasional Tiger academy game sometimes I'll keep an eye out. Those boys are frighteningly big considering how young they are.

his name is rhys williams- plays centre, but honestly could fit in anywhere in the backs (except 9 really) have known him since i was 8 and he is quality
the other u16 lad is luke williams- hooker

dont think they play games in their first year though.
and yeh they are both big muscle wise and rhys was told he had to stop working on upper body and work on his leg muscles as he was too big!!

oh and trained with the welsh backrow last mont =D

I've played with and against a guy called Kevin O'Brian, who got a couple of caps for Ireland in the 80s at full back. He was in his 50s and I was 17!

JJ (White Shark) once rescued me from the bottom of a ruck when my back was about to be snapped. He would not mind me saying that he was at the end of his most illustrious career and I was a daft wee boy. he did pull me up with his massive 'fermer' arms and said "you are alright son ". Never forgotten that- a tru gent.

Forgot to add, skinned Paul Hull (ex Eng full back) playing aginst RAF Innsworth trained with the CS squad including Rory Underwood Tim Rodbor and the posh scottish No8 who was in the army(cant bloody emember his name arrrgggghh)

Ive played with 'He who shall not be named', Richard Mustoe who was better than henson in school, recently retired Gareth Williams, James Bater and ive played against Delve too

I burned Sharples on the wing when I played for school.

Rob Wainwright.

Glas a du wrote:Rob Wainwright.

Thats the fella

Thanks Glas

Not professional, but three of my club team have represented eastern counties, which is norfolk, suffolk and Essex.
Bodkin - scrumhalf
JP - flyhalf/fullback (tackles like Wilko and has been injured almost as often, hence the nickname the calcium kid)
And a lad called O'riley who played openside but in the age groups had also played at 12 and flyhalf. Incredibly talented player.

Don't mention it.

Duncan Jones, I worked with his father Gary, and he told me about him and the team, he was playing for (cant remember if it was Neath Collegue or maybe Maesteg Comp).
I said we were playing that team next and his dad gave me a description of him and all game I went looking for him with the intention of giving him a nice shiner, so I could tell his dad I gave it to him.
Funnily enough I cant remember propping against him, and I was tight head, he is a loose head now, so either he was in a different position in those days, maybe at tight head also, which explains why I cant remember any scrums.

I did try and give him a beating but he ignored my cheap shot, then ended up winding me when he tackled me so I cut my losses on that one, I remember we lost the game too which didn't help

I may of also propped against him in a Boys Clubs trials in Taibach later on, but I'm not too sure on that one.

I was also in school with Ben Phillips the Cardiff hooker.