England & Wasps - Josh Lewsey MBE - In Focus

A Former Waspish Officer & Gentleman

Of all the England rugby players Josh Lewsey is definitely one of the more interesting characters.

Some years back whilst playing for Wasps he got a call from Sandhurst asking if he wanted to enrol on their world famous officer training course.  The Army having sponsored him through Bristol University wanted to know his intentions?

Lewsey being Lewsey liked the idea, spoke to Nigel Melville (Wasps Director of Rugby at the time) and the both agreed it was worth giving it a go!    Step forward Officer Cadet Lewsey, Burma Company 22 Platoon.  So midweek an officer in training and at weekends Zurich Premiership rugby player.

Josh said of the training " If anything, the training has improved my mental alertness.  I think that being away from a rugby environment might actually give me an edge".

However he soon realised, though, that the two lives didn't make easy bedfellows.  That became all too obvious when he was forced to spend the morning of the Powergen Cup Final cleaning the latrines at Sandhurst, before heading off to Twickenham with his Wasps team-mates.

Josh says "it was a big decision to leave the Army, but I just couldn't combine the two jobs properly".  When one of those jobs involves responsibility of people's lives, then you have to make the right call.  I wasn't prepared to be a token soldier".

He still cares deeply about his mates in Burma Company 22 Platoon, anyone who bought and watched the video 'Sweet Chariot' will see him pouring over the TV news coverage to find out what was happening to them out in Iraq during the recent war.  

Josh still has that sense of adventure, having been on the England Summer Tour 2003 and beating New Zealand and Australia  in those historic matches - anyone else might have had a normal holiday by the beach - not for him!   Josh and his girl friend Tamsyn (who are both keen horse-riders) spent part of their holiday living as cowboys on a ranch in Arizona.  They joined in cattle drives and Josh even grappled with calves.

Josh said jokingly " It wasn't  dissimilar to international rugby actually - Calves are incredibly strong and you had to watch out for flailing legs. And you ended the day feeling tired and bruised, but with a real sense of satisfaction".

And as a person you could not wish to meet a more down to earth and sensible young man, with the strength of character that his parent's must be very proud of!  In one interview before the Rugby World Cup he said:-

"You know; lifting  trophies is great and we all love it, of course, but I suspect the things I'll remember most fondly will be the little things.  They tend to be the things that mean the most.  Some kind words from someone you respect massively, some small little action.  It will probably be the things that most other people wouldn't even notice that will be my proudest moments".

Five years after his first debut for England, Josh took to the field again for England v Italy after Jason Robinson was injured and what a delight to see his play.  And who will ever forget that thumping tackle he made on Matt Rogers of Australia during that summer tour. Matt won't that is for sure!

MBE in the 2004 New Year's Honours list - yes the future is very bright for Josh Lewsey, Wasps and England.  We all look forward to much more.

Article Source & Quotes: England Rugby Magazine

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