Northampton Saints
News: Long aims to bow out a winner
By Neale Harvey
March 30 2012
Neale did a piece on Andy for the Rugby Paper ahead of the LV final, which didn't all get published so he thought we might be interested in the full version. Neale sees him as a top man and hopes he gets sorted out for next season. He'll clock 200 Prem appearances if he plays in the remaining 4 regular season matches... which barring injury he now probably will.......
Long aims to bow out a winner
By NEALE HARVEY
Andy Long admits nothing will erase the bitter disappointment of missing out on a Heineken Cup winner’s medal with Bath, but victory for Northampton in today’s LV= Cup final against Leicester would be one of the sweetest moments of his career.
The veteran hooker dons a starting jersey for potentially the last time at Sixways, knowing chances will be limited once Dylan Hartley returns from England duty.
Out of contract in June, the clock is winding down on Long’s career – one that has spanned the professional era – and 14 years after failing to be selected for Bath’s 1998 Heineken Cup final squad against Brive, he is desperate to bow out a winner.
The 34-year-old warhorse told The Rugby Paper: “I played in the Pool matches and the quarter-final and semi-final that year, but in the final they went with Mark ‘Ronnie’ Regan and Federico Mendez – not a bad pair of hookers but I was obviously disappointed.
“I haven’t got a Heineken Cup winner’s medal because they didn’t go round the squad, which I’m still a bit gutted about but that’s the way it is.
“That was a fantastic Bath team, though, and I’m fortunate I played a part in the Pool and knock-out stages, so you’ve got to be philosophical about it.
“I’m also fortunate the people I had around me at Bath kind of moulded me into the player and person I became, because I’ve had a great career in rugby. I left school in 1996 to join Bath, so I’ve seen it all during the professional era.
“It’s thrilling to be in this cup final with Saints now. It’s something that we challenged ourselves to do and with lads being away on internationals, it’s given all of us a lot more opportunities to play, which has been absolutely brilliant.
“You talk about having something tangible to remember when you finish and I probably haven’t got that many games left at this level, so I really want to challenge myself to get some silverware – as do all the players in the Saints squad.”
After seven years at Bath, during which he was twice capped by England, Long’s nomadic rugby journey has since encompassed Munster, Rotherham, Newcastle and now Northampton, with whom he won the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Gloucester two years ago.
Long’s best spell came in the mid-noughties when he was a starter in the Newcastle side that twice finished seventh in the Premiership and reached the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup – achievements the Geordies would kill for now.
“I’ve been fortunate to have played at some good clubs and with some good players who I’ve learned from,” says Long, who has 195 Premiership appearances to his name and looks back fondly on his early days fighting Regan for a Bath shirt.
“Me and ‘Ronnie’ were battling it out at Bath for a while and Lee Mears was the younger one coming up behind. Mark and I were competitive everyday at the club and he was certainly someone I learnt a lot from. “He maybe didn’t teach me anything one-on-one, but just watching him play, training against him and seeing how much of a competitor he was gave me a lot of respect for Ronnie and helped me on my way.
“Professional rugby is fantastic to be involved in and everywhere I’ve been I’ve enjoyed and learned from. It’s been brilliant, especially here at Saints where everything is just so well organised and professional.”
Long is not planning on hanging up the boots just yet. He appreciates his top-flight days may soon be over, but he would dearly love a career in coaching and believes he has plenty to offer if the right opportunity comes along.
“The players and physios at Northampton – and certainly our coach, Dorian West – keep telling me I’m getting old, but I think I could probably keep playing for a while longer,” says Long.
“I’m currently looking at what I’m doing for next season and coaching is really important to me. I’ve done my level three and I’ve been coaching at Cambridge, so that’s what I’m looking to get into and it’s about getting that opportunity.
“Rugby’s been my life since I left school and I want to try and put my experience towards young players, because there’s quite a lot I could pass on.
“If I could manage my body and carry on playing, whilst imparting some knowledge on other players as a player-coach at another club, that would excite me a lot.
“Playing rugby at the highest level doesn’t mean you can coach at that level, but I want to strive to be the best coach I can be and earn my stripes along the way.”
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon30/03/2012 15:54
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
... I'd like Long to be our starting 2.
No alcohol for January. I'm a dryathlete in aid of cancer research.
Dryathlon
He was so effective - in the set piece, in the lineouts and especially in the loose - that I pretty much forgot Dylan wasn't "available for selection".
He earned a couple of penalties (fortunately, Donald missed them) and - more important - earned his campaign medal after a brilliant front row performance. His lineout throwing was flawless and his tackling and chasing was first class.
I'm sure he's getting younger with every game.
He really deserves an extension of some sort, not only for rescuing the Saints on so many occasions, but also for working, training, biding his time and then turning up with his A game.
Thankyou, Andy.
*I could agree with you - but then we'd both be wrong...*
More Northampton Saints headlines
- End of season how the squad was used analysis
- This weeks rugby 1st - 5th July
- Weekend Rugby 27th/28th June
- Weekend Rugby 19th - 20th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 12th - 14th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 5th - 7th June 2026
- Weekend Rugby 29th - 31st May 20206
- Weekend Rugby 22nd - 23rd May 2026
- Weekend Rugby 15th - 17th May 2026