Meeting the Fans.....The Extra Mile

I was telling a story to a friend the other day of when I used to meet players and collect autographs as a child and prompted me to ask the 606v2 community, about when they met players, who were the ones that stood out?

The one that stands out for me is when I was a young lad and went to watch the Snelling Sevens at the Arms Park. Bath were the guest team there that year. I'd been around all the teams to collect autographs (Jenks even helped me over the barrier so I could collect the Ponty team's signatures). I happened to see the Bath team in the tunnel area. I approached Mike Catt and asked if I could get an autograph. He put his hand up and said 'Can you go away as i'm trying to warm up'. I was a bit gutted at that (considering everyone else was so accommodating) and just went and stood by the gate. With that a hand grabbed my autograph book. It was Jon Callard and he said ''i'll sort it'. He went around the entire squad collecting signatures. Mike Catt went to sign it and Callard walked straight past him and then back to me with the book and a smile and a wink.

I'm a passionate Welsh fan and have a lot of rugby heroes, but Jon Callard really stood out as a real giant of the game that day for me.

The ones that have stood out have been David Wallace and Jonny Wilkinson.

My local club got a new astroturf pitch and the opening game was an U18 select match made up from kids from all the schools in the area. David Wallace was to coach one team and Keith Wood the other. It was planned months in advance and turned out was the morning after Munster v Northampton quarter final HEC. The final was on a Saturday evening. I turned up Sunday morning at 10am to see David Wallace out giving advice to the kids talking to them, not caring he had played a tough game less than 12 hours previous. It was a massive contrast to Jerry Flannery who my mates met langered drunk at 2am after the match.

As for Jonny Wilkinson I met him when Newcastle Falcons toured and he was out using the university pitches to train. Me and my two mates were about 15 and headed out to meet him. He signed everything we could want and then without us asking said "I'm gonna be heading down now to practice some kicks do you lads want to come". He was showing us how he likes to kick and was passing about the ball with us. Real gent.

I met James Hook after a Munster V Ospreys match. The fella wasa real gent posing for photgraphs and autographs with all the kids and I even got one myself! ROG can be a right cranky barsteward at times.

Aslo,I saw Axel Foley give away his scrumcap and jersey from his last Munster game at the final whistle. Lots of respect for him.

As much as it pains me to say it, Johnny stands out for me too.

I has the chance to meet the entire Lions squad in Rotorua in 2005 and get pics and photos to send back to my daughter in Wales. Johnny went the extra mile with me by taking my camera and taking my picture with a few of the Lions. He was genuinely interested in chatting with me.

I can not say any of the Lions were ignorant and were happy to have their pic taken etc apart from Gavin who did have the air of self importance.

Thomond wrote: ROG can be a right cranky barsteward at times.

Agree I've met him and Flannery few times and can't say I liked either of them.

Ryan Jones is always lovely when he meets fans, Huw Bennett and AWJ are friendly too. I've heard mixed stories about Shane Williams - some say he was all right then others say he was an arrogant git. I've never met him personally. Ieuan Evans was all right when I met him.

My personal fave was meeting Tommy Bowe at Dublin Airport by accident. Had a good chat with him and he let me have a photo taken with him as well. He was just absolutely lovely....considering I was a bit...excited and nervous

Stag,did you get the link? The majority of Munster fellas are grand. I remember a few of us went out to a training session out in Murphy's famr a few years ago. Paulie got injured on the Summer tour I think and he was sitting out training. He still took the time to come over and talk to us and igve a few tips on lineout throwing and lifiting.

I did Thomond thanks.

Robbie Diack is the nicest guy I've come across, I tend to not bother players because of I was a player I think I would not like to be bothered! But many are happy to talk to fans.

Andrew Trimble lives 5 minutes down the road from me, I often see him coming and going from his flat, but I've never spoken to him- not even in the spirit of a good neighbor

Notch wrote:Andrew Trimble lives 5 minutes down the road from me, I often see him coming and going from his flat, but I've never spoken to him- not even in the spirit of a good neighbor

Notch - he's probably very hurt by the fact that the big Ulster fan living just doors away, ignores him.

There is a guy who's something to do with Cardiff Blues living across the road from me. He's built like a player but I don't recognise him so he could be a coach or something like that.

Cari wrote:

Notch wrote:Andrew Trimble lives 5 minutes down the road from me, I often see him coming and going from his flat, but I've never spoken to him- not even in the spirit of a good neighbor

Notch - he's probably very hurt by the fact that the big Ulster fan living just doors away, ignores him.

There is a guy who's something to do with Cardiff Blues living across the road from me. He's built like a player but I don't recognise him so he could be a coach or something like that.

Hehe. The other day he posted a picture on twitter of Tommy Bowe outside his flat, and I was like- hey! I can see my house from here

I ended up meeting a load of Dragons players in Toulouse this year. Apparently Gavin Thomas was a bit anti with some of my mates, but players like Ashley Smith, Danny Lydiate and Matthew Jones were getting involved with the fans and drinking with us. Ash Smith still shakes my hand every time I see him in our club house. Tom Willis was very friendly for the Gloucester semi final.

I kind of know Ryan Jones and Jason Tovey, so they're obviously pretty friendly. Maybe Ryan Jones isn't now though, after his dad saw me on tv shouting for the Dragons in the recent (ish) Ospreys game.

Gethin Jenkins was very friendly when I bumped into him on my stag doo in Cardiff. He's perceived as a bit grumpy, but he even managed to crack a smile for my photo.

Risca Rev wrote:I kind of know Ryan Jones and Jason Tovey, so they're obviously pretty friendly. Maybe Ryan Jones isn't now though, after his dad saw me on tv shouting for the Dragons in the recent (ish) Ospreys game.

That story still makes me laugh

Notch - what?! Tommy was in your street and you didn't go over to meet him?! Good grief, you are slacking boy! I bet if it was Paddy Wallace...

Rev - I think some of the players wouldn't like to mess with you cause you're as big as they are!

Gareth Chilcott once got me in a headlock. For a photo! It was at a work do when he was doing the after dinner speaking. He's a very, very funny guy!

I've met Henson through a friend. He seemed very quiet but was polite enough. Charlotte did all the talking for both of them!

Scott Gibbs came to my old workplace. He just grinned when I said I hadn't forgiven him for '99!

I was at the parents house last week, helping my mum out while the auld fella was away

Saw Paddy Wallace in a pizzeria in East Belfast a while ago though- to be perfectly honest, Belfast is not that big a place at all.

My brother lives in West Hollywood LA, so his spotting stories are a lot better than mine!

Notch - pah! Who needs Hollywood when you've got Belfast?! The views are nicer too...

I've seen a few players around Cardiff but I've never met them, so I can't really say what they're like to meet. Usually I spot them and by the time I think "Oh there's wossname..." they're gone!

Oh, and Nicky Robinson was lovely when I met him after his dog jumped on me!

What about Holywood,County Down. You might spot a famous golfer around there!

That's true! Precious all else to do out there mind you

I've been pretty fortunate. I have met a number of players through my medical practice. And, not one Rugby player was anything but a gentleman. My staff and even people in the waitng rooms all said the same thing.

But I think the best experience I had was a few years ago flying back from a conference in Warsaw with an American mate. My mate is a big Rugby fan, and we were sitting a one of the few cafes in the Warsaw airport waiting for our flight back to Heathrow. The Wasps team returning from their pre-season training showed up and a few asked to share our table since the cafe is fairly small. Once the Wasps guys I was with heard my mates American accent and found out he was a Rugby fan, the deal was sealed. Other Wasps guys came over and we all chatted as we waited for the flight and a bit afterwards. Without being asked, they sent some things to my mate for his kids and a picture to me with all of us sitting there.

Great afternoon.