By Oopnorth (09/08/02)
December 14 2003

Gavin Kerr

	Nickname
	Position	Prop
	Date of Birth	04/03/77
	Previous Club	Caldy
	Height	5' 11"
	Tykes Debut	24/02/01
	Honours	Scotland

Gavin Kerr joined the Tykes at the beginning of the National 1 promotion season. Phil Davies was aware of the young prop and offered him a trial when Kerr telephoned him on the off chance after moving from Scotland & dabbling in the English lower leagues.

He quickly secured the tight head berth partnering Mike Shelley at loosehead and providing a strong and dynamic unit which generally carried all before it in National 1. With promotion came increased competition as Phil Davies brought in experience in the form of Justin Wring and Kris Fullman after failing with an attempt to bring in Cobus Visagie.

However Kerr rose to the challenge and again made the starting berth his own in the first half of the season, with two particular highlights being the Tigers and Sarries games.

Jedi’s season highlight was ‘A push over try against the head versus Saracens’ which proved that the pack and Kerr could be tested against top sides. Another comment on the same game summed it up nicely ‘Kerr (Never takes a step back)’.

But perhaps Gavin’s and everyone else's best moment was described on Sky Sports as ‘Prop Gavin Kerr charged an unlikely 40 metres for the glory try as Leeds added triple champions Leicester to their list of Premiership scalps’

This form was getting him noticed and he re-established himself as a contender for international honours with several appearances for Scotland A.

After picking up a neck injury, the second half of the season was a struggle as the Tykes sought Premiership survival. Kerr’s starting spot became less certain as Wring returned to fitness and form. Gavin was forced to pull out
of the Scotland squad and the opportunity of the Summer tour.

The questions now on the supporters minds are - has he returned to fitness over the summer, and which of the two Kerr or Wring should get first shot to secure the tighthead space? The opportunity is there at Club and International level for Kerr to continue to improve and develop into a top front rower.

Last updated 01/10/03