Published: 30/07/2010 09:17 -
Updated: 30/07/2010 09:24
Ben Nutley. Picture by Andy Taylor
Ben Nutley was football mad until he gave the 15-man game a try at Luton Rugby Club, instantly showing a natural ability which saw him quickly spotted and signed up by Saints.
The Premiership club have a track record for producing some of the game’s top talent and past graduates include England World Cup winners Steve Thompson and Ben Cohen and more recent internationals like Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes.
The 18-year-old flanker said it could have been so different if he hadn’t caught the scrum bug.
“I used to play football and my twin brother was always the one that played rugby,” he said. “But I got invited to play at Luton and played there for three years before I got scouted by [Saints Junior Academy coaches] Grant Seeley and Ali Hepher when I played against Northampton DBOB and have been in the academy from there really.
“I went through the JSA [Junior Saints Academy] and to the senior academy, so it’s been a good experience.” After playing between the sticks in football, Nutley says there’s no comparison between the two sports.
“I played in goal for Luton Academy, but the adrenaline rush that I got from rugby took over, and that was my main decision in choosing between the sports I wanted to do,” he said.
“I started out on the wing, which is different to how I play now, but I scored a few tries. It’s the buzz of making tackles is something different that you don’t get in other sports.
“I did play when I was really young but it was touch rugby and that was why I left.
“Then I played contact at school and it is completely different to any other sport I’ve played.
“It’s such a buzz when youmake a big hit or when you break a tackle so I think that was a big factor.”
Nutley is now determined to show what he can do in the sevens game as he tries to show the necessary skills which might ease his transition from the academy to the first XV - and he knows it is a big step.
“Even in the gym you notice the difference,” he said. “Some of the guys were massive. We haven’t done much contact yet but even playing in the Wanderers against the big boys is another step up and you’ve got to have it mentally as well as physically. It’s a bit of everything to make sure you get that contact area right.”
The sevens series will be another test of Nutley’s development, wherehewill be playing against some established Premiership players, but the Luton lad is undaunted by the task.
“When you’re out there it’s not a factor in your mind, but there were a couple of times when we played last year when I shook their hands afterwards and thought, ‘Woah, I’ve seen you on telly.’ It is quite a shock, but when you play you’ve just got to try and raise your game to be better than them.”
His chances could be enhanced in the coming season as Nutley and his peers will get more exposure to first team action following Saints’ announcement on Monday of an agreement that will see members of the academy made available to Championship side Birmingham&Solihull.
The flanker said: “I think they [Birmingham] are an up-andcoming club with new backing and they look the part. It would be nice to go and play down there. It would be nice to meet up with some of the lads that were here last year, and to see what we can do to help them improve and for them to improveus. I think it would be a good experience.”
Saints will play Gloucester, Bath and Exeter Chiefs on Friday with the winner of the group going through to the sevens finals day on Friday, August 6, at Bath’s Recreation Ground, where Newcastle Falcons, Sale Sharks, Harlequins and Saracens have already qualified.
