And in the first of a four-part interview reflecting on an extraordinary 29 years at the club, Tom – who was picked in the National League Rugby website Team of the Season last term – explains his decision and how he first arrived at Old Bath Road, plus the quality of our greatest-ever Colts’ team.
He said: “I always wanted to go out on a high and to be recognised by the league was nice, but actually it’s just the right time for me – I’ve got to the age where time commitments, other priorities start to change a little bit, and to be back last season, to finish things where it started, it’s right.”
He continued: “My dad had played for Redingensians a long, long time ago, and then I was born in Charvil, so it was literally five minutes up the road, and I don’t think he even asked me, I was just up there aged four for a run-a-round.
“Then I obviously loved it and was blessed with some great coaches like Bill Gornall-King (U4s-18). I was a young lad and when thrown the ball and told you can just run at the other team, I enjoyed it.
“Dad stayed involved by collecting the match fees which I think he relished – there were always the same parents who needed chasing.”
Talented bunch
“All the way through from Under 10s we had a very, very good year with the likes of Harry Stapleton, Ross Crame, Connor Stapley – we won pretty much every tournament we went to – Greensands, one in Cork – and then we had an unbeaten season where we scored a ridiculous amount of points, which helped keep the core together.
“Then we moved into the Colts with a couple of guys from the year below, Dom Gosling and a one or two others, supplemented by Jason (McMahon’s) coaching ability, it was special.
“We went on a fantastic run, and I wasn’t even meant to play the final. Thank You John Cook.”
Flown home for cup final
The shoot-out where Rams could have been National champions for the first time ultimately ended up in a 38-14 reverse against Bedford Blues, but the spirit of the club in allowing him to play is an abiding memory of Tom’s.
He explained: “I’d played all the games up to the quarter-final but then went travelling and after the guys got to the final, I got a call from John – I was in Koh Tao in Thailand – and he said ‘we want to fly you back.’
“I thought about it for a minute, then said yes, came back and then flew back out to meet up with my friends in Singapore.
“It was an amazing experience, I was a little bit jet-lagged but to play at a stadium and pitch like that was sensational, and then the travelling support from Rams was amazing.
“We played against a few future Premiership players like Josh Bassett (Wasps), but we did very well because Bedford’s team was basically a feeder into their Championship side – at the time Rams as a club were a small side in Level Five!
“It was a proud occasion for me, my family and a testament to Bill and Jason and what great coaches they were, and also outstanding blokes.”
“Jason (McMahon), Bill and Tewkes (Mike Tewkesbury) did so much for me and I can’t thank them enough – they invested in me and let me go on.
