Wig and Backy Q&A

Q&A with Graham Rowntree and Neil Back

By TigersTart

Pictures by Ian and Ali

Two of the longest servants of Leicester Tigers got together on Wednesday 16th April 2003 for a members night Q&A session, Graham “Wiggy” Rowntree and Neil “Backy” Back. Not only have Graham and Neil proudly served their club but they also gained England honours and toured with the British Lions.

More commonly known as one third of the famous ABC club, Wiggy has wore the famous stripes since 1988 and has packed down with Cocky and Garforth since 1992 and they were all awarded their Testimonial Year last season, which included an entertaining Q&A evening of OZ and Justin Harrison and Josh playing harmonica. In testament to the way in which the fans hold him in high regard, he was awarded the Outstanding Service Award in the 1999-2000 season. His commitment to the game is reflected in his catchphrase of “you only get out what you put in”.

The ubiquitous NO.7 position has been filled by Backy since 1990. He has always committed himself to a high standard of training and fitness, where he has sought a successful career made up of hard graft and size doesn’t matter. Success may have taken longer than he wishes, but Backy has been picked for England, 7's and The Lions, and has always been a firm favourite in the Barbarians colours. Backy has reached numerous records, as only the third forward in Tigers history to score 100 tries and has won Tigers Player of the Season, 1998 RFU Player of the Year and 1999 Player’s Player of the Year.

MC for the night, PR man Sam Rossister-Stead, (as Matt Poole was recovering from running the London Marathon), started the night by taking questions from the floor:

Q As the Premiership clubs voted for the salary cap, there is a concern over increasing imported players at the expense of emerging youngsters – comment?

SRS: This is not an encouraging position to be in regarding developing young talent. The Premiership has kept the salary cap the same but reduced payment that we would receive for injured players, withdrew international compensation and the dual capacity of a player/coach will see all their salary included in the cap. This will impact on us more than other clubs. There has not yet been a legal challenge, as it’s been a gentleman’s agreement, but due to competition laws, someone could mount a legal challenge.

Q At the Munster game, there were more than 4,000 Munster fans – where did they get their tickets?

SRS: If you look at the back of your match ticket, the first clause is that you can’t re-sell your ticket for more than face value. The BBC got an allocation, including 10 pairs for competition winners, and ERC had 600 free tickets and brought another 100, which went to the Irish. The BBC have prompted the European game and SKY have promoted the domestic game very well. However, SKY tried to move the Leeds game with only 11-days notice, the club thought of the fans and put our foot down as we want rugby traditionally at 3pm on a Saturday.

Q Are you aware of the poor PA system, in terms of sound quality?

SRS: Yes the club are aware. It seems to work well whenever we test the system but that’s when the stadium is empty. In the summer, we are over-hauling the system, as we can’t go on like this especially in terms of safety.

Q Can we have a song for the club?

SRS: A while ago Peter Wheeler wrote an article in the Leicester Mercury about having a song and it gave a diverse list of possibilities. Tigers, Tigers, Tigers has it’s purpose but we need a song like how Munster fans got behind their team on Sunday.

Q Why can’t we have the old Tiger back?

SRS: The old Lester has gone. The new Tigers, JT and Welford, have better outfits to wear and we have sold a lot of the toy mascots in the shop. All of the team mascots want to have their picture taken with JT and Welford.

Then SRS introduced the players and it was time to get down to the real questions.

Background questions

SRS How is your Testimonial Year going?

NB: My Testimonial game at Welford Road certainly brought a smile back to Deano’s face for all those who attended. Events coming up soon include a local event at The Swallow Inn and a Q&A session at The Walkabout in London including Oz, Johnno and Dawson.

SRS: How’s your knee?

GR: My knee is coming on well and I should be ready for next week.

Rugby-related questions – Leicester

SRS What do you think about the young lads at the club i.e. Cooke, Holford and Buckland?

GR: Holford and Cooke are outstanding and play so well for the U21s. Hopefully, we will see them very soon playing for the first team.

SRS The U21s have a competitive backrow, i.e. Abraham and Skinner – what do you think?

NB: We are very fortunate that the academy is bringing players through. Cooke has been training with us this week. The coaching set-up at Tigers is second-to-none and that’s why we got a large percentage of players in the England squads.

SRS: A lot has been written about your retirement Backy – comment?

NB: Whilst I have got the desire and enthusiasm I will continue. In terms of conditioning, I am lifting the heaviest weights now and running the fastest. This has been achieved through both conditioning and nutrition.

SRS You have plenty of years left in you despite playing so long with Darren and looking old?

GR: I am 32 on Easter Friday. Like Backy, I have never felt better than I do at the moment, apart from being injured and hope to carry on playing till my mid-30s like Darren.

SRS On retirement, would you like to coach?

NB: The club are very keen to keep me and I have been approached internationally to assist. I am shy by nature, but when I get on the rugby field I am full of confidence and I feel I have the knowledge to coach. This is where I want to end my career on a high, as I have excellent support and team mates.

GR: By the time I finish all the coaching jobs will be filled! I would lie to coach but at a lower level.

SRS What happened against Munster?

GR: I am still shell-shocked. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Munster got behind their team at Welford Road. I don’t want to point a finger at anyone.

NB: The question is that with the new international set-up has put club rugby at a disadvantage, as its improved England but meant that there’s not been enough continuity at the club, as the England players have been away for 7 weeks and Tigers have not played together during that time. We have learnt a lot of lessons from Munster. With Tigers on TV a lot our opponents know us inside out.

SRS How do the team meetings work?

NB: The meetings are chaired by Deano and Wells. Everyone is encouraged to say their peace and get anything off their chests. The backs and forwards have separate meetings and then we have a team meeting. We are now looking forward and need 19 points from the next four league games to get into the play-offs and then its only two games before we can win the Premiership.

SRS What’s your most memorable moment?

GR: The 1st European Cup Final victory (Paris 2001) for the fear beforehand and jubilation afterwards. The worst memory was the first European Cup Final we were in (V Brive, Cardiff Arms Park 1997) as by the first 20 minutes Brive had won the game.

SRS Which is you favourite Paris or Cardiff?

NB: The European Cup is the most physical and mental cup competition that you can play in. To get back from losing in 1997 was brilliant. The highlight was beating Stade Francais as we were on a big high after the game.

SRS How did you lift yourselves after winning in Paris for last season?

NB: The European Cup is the premier competition and Tigers normally perform well and have been consistent. The pressure will be off next year and we will be underestimated, so therefore do well.

SRS: Who are your most respected opponents?

GR: Darren (I know cheesy answer!). It is a difficult and hard working position, and he sets the tone for every game. Jason Leonard, who is a good friend of mine; Arlo Brown (NZ) and most French front-rows, including our very own French fruit cake!

NB: Andre Venter (SA) as he was a mobile player with good hands, whilst being a clean, hard working and physical player. He was also very friendly off the field. Josh Kronfeld, as in the 1995 World Cup was outstanding and didn’t get the credit he deserved, and he has a high work rate ethic especially in training which he has brought to the club. I was lucky to meet Jean Pierre Rives. Deano and Wellsey, as to match up with them at backrow was such a great opportunity and made me the player that I am.

SRS Who’s you favourite referee?

GR: Technically, Steve Lander (apart from the Gloucester V Tigers game at Saints).

NB: I agree with Wiggy, as during the week building up to a test he spends time with the team and respect goes both ways. The way in which Lander has gone round the clubs, it’s improved him as a referee.

England

SRS: Previously, were you too confident before other England games?

NB: England have learnt from past mistakes. We were under extreme pressure to win but we went into the game having won 30 of our previous test games.

GR: We prepared so well before the England V Ireland game.

SRS: There was some controversy before the England game?

GR: I have never laughed so much before a game. We ran out and lined up on our side. Next thing, the Irish team walked towards us and asked us to move, but we weren’t going to. Then we were asked to move by a man in a blazer and another man.

SRS: With Woody trying out different backrow combinations, did you think you would end up playing?

NB: I do a column with “The Mirror” and I predicted that England would win the 6-Nations Championship. The first game I was unlucky not to get picked as I had a 14-week pre-season rest, which is unusual, but then I did everything to ensure that England would win.

SRS Robbie Morris has been fast tracked into the England squad – comment?

GR: Robbie has been lucky to get an England cap, but he’s not really been tested.

NB: He came through as there were injuries to everyone else but it has given the young lad an opportunity.

SRS: With your injuries, did you think that you would overcome this to get an England winners medal?

GR: It’s a case of if no one left fit, then call Graham. I have never been so injured before which got me down at one point but I got over that. Prop is a very competitive position and England need good cover during the World Cup. England’s selection policy has seen a variety of props that have been looked at in view of the World Cup.

Other questions

SRS You are stereotyped as prop/No.7 – would you come back in another position?

GR: Looking at our squad, I would be openside, backrow, lock or No.10 as they get well paid.

NB: I have always played at NO.7 through representative level. But if I could choose, then I would like to play No.10 – perhaps on Saturday against Quins?

SRS Have you always looked older than you are?

GR: Yes!

SRS Darren says that I should ask how you nearly got shot?

GR: Three years ago we were on tour in South Africa. There were two squads – senior team and mid-week team. The mid-week team played on a Tuesday or Wednesday and then went out on Thursday. Darren and I were drinking late into the night and Cozza came back to join us. One of the ladies behind the bar agreed to give us a lift back to the hotel, so we walked into the car park. We looked back and saw that the bar was being held up at gunpoint. We hid in the car park. Then the door of the bar opened and 10-12 blokes came out with guns. Everyone stood still but me, as my foot was in a carrier bag and the robbers heard this. Next thing, we were on the floor at gunpoint throwing our wallets onto the car park.

SRS Who is the ladies man on the team?

NB: There are two types of men – those who talk about it and those who don’t talk about it. I can only comment on those who talk and the player that talks about the ladies every minute of the day is Mr Steven Booth.

SRS: What makes you mad?

NB: Road etiquette; traffic islands; when you pour a drink and leave a ring on the table and don’t clean it and when you get up in the morning and don’t make you bed. Before Graham says, I am a neat freak who likes everything in its place.

GR: Neat freaks make me mad! West as he smells!

SRS What makes you embarrassed?

NB: Hair treatment! A few years ago, I had my head shaved and a taupe fixed on. Then we were playing Bristol to win the Premiership. I got myself sin-binned as the taupe had come adrift. After the game, I put a cap on and was the dullest person. The following week at Welford Road I was a skinhead who scored three tries. I was happy with the product but it wasn’t suitable for rugby playing!

SRS Have you been approached to do hair treatment?

GR: I have been approached to do ear stuff! I get mistaken for Darren quite a lot. In Asda last week, some old ladies were looking at me and pointing at me, but I carried on. Later they caught me up. I started to say that yes I am that player but they asked if I could reach something off the top shelf for them – that makes my wife laugh!

SRS What’s your new car like Neil?

NB: I love cars. I am very lucky to have a sponsored 330 Club Sport from Synter BMW. I have a very tasty model on order for 2005. I am also been able to drive a lot of cars like Porsche II, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin DB7.

SRS Who’s your best/worst roommate?

GR: The worst is Cocky, but he’s gone now. Darren was bad as he was able to snore, fart and cough at the same time, West know shares with him. I now room with either Ricky or Hamilton.

NB: When I can I prefer a room to myself. I would normally share with the younger lads and on England duty all players have a room to themselves.

GR: Ben Kay is the untidiest!

NB: They are all untidy and I feel for maids in hotels.

SRS what’s your favourite TV programme?

NB: I have to watch the soaps, as my wife does, but I like MTV.

GR: I love The Bill. I prefer to watch rugby league to union. But I watch whatever’s on the TV and these days its mostly kids channels.

SRS Have you got any hobbies?

GR: I used to love tanks and we’d go on holiday to Dorset and my dad would take me to see the tanks.

NB: I am a neat freak and a car freak, as I am always looking at car books or magazines.

SRS If the Tigers squad were in the Big Brother House, who would you vote and first and who would you keep in last apart from yourself?

NB: Without question, Darren would go first as he is messy. I would leave in Healey so I could beat him up all week.

GR: The first to go would be Healey as he is obnoxious and irritating (white boots would go out of the window) and second would be Boothy as I couldn’t cope with his creeping. I would leave in Short and Will Johnson as they are very funny.

SRS What’s you favourite all time 15?

NB: Unfair to ask that.

GR:

1st Team	2nd Team
15 Tim Stimpson	15 John Liley
14 Rory Underwood	14 Tony Underwood
13 Ollie Smith	13 Rod Kafer
12 Pat Howard	12 Clive Woodward
11 Freddie	11 Barry Evans
10 Joel Stransky	10 Les Cusworth
9 Austin Healey	9 Nick Young
1 Corling	1 Perry Freshwater
2 Richard Cockerill	2 Peter Wheeler
3 Darren Garforth	3 Steve Redfearn
4 Martin Johnson	4 Tom Smith
5 Fritz Van Heerden	5 Louis Deacon
6 Martin Corry	6 Ian Smith
7 Neil Back	7 Dean Richards
8 Lewis Moody	8 John Wells

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