Rodwell blow to Moseley head coach

Oct 23 2009 by Brian Dick, Birmingham Post

Of all the bad news to reach Ian Smith in the days before the inaugural Championship season, the information involving James Rodwell would have brought the sharpest intake of breath.

While Andy Reay’s strained hamstring, Neil Mason’s damaged shoulder and Mark Evans’ knee operation were all downright inconvenient, word that Rodwell had broken his ankle and would be out for the first eight weeks was as painful for the head coach as for the player himself. Especially given the circumstances.

Rodwell is one of Moseley’s crown jewels. A relatively home grown product whose searing pace and enthusiastic support lines have him headed for the top flight.

However, tension arises when it comes to discussing how quickly he should arrive, via which route and whether the 25-year-old is better served pursuing his ambitions on the Sevens fields of Dubai or the paddy fields of Plymouth and Doncaster.

Which he why he is in the unusual position, agreed during the summer, that affords him a foot in both the fulltime and part-time camps and allows him to play with Moseley and train with near neighbours Worcester.

That is not to say he doesn’t train with Moseley – he’s at every rugby session Smith can convene – and he also plays for Worcester. Clear so far?

Which brings us back to the bad news. It was during his only game for Warriors, a pre-season warm up at Dragons, that Rodwell sustained his fracture.

“The situation was not great for either club or for me,” Rodwell admitted.

“It was one of those injuries that could have happened training, playing for Moseley or playing for Worcester.

“Luckily Mike Ruddock phoned Ian before I did so that softened the blow.

“When we did speak it wasn’t too bad a conversation. Ian’s played the game, he knows injuries happen in rugby.”

Indeed he does, but it still smarted.

Thankfully all that is in the past now. The Thing from Tring made his comeback in last Friday night’s defeat at Bristol.

It was a commendable though largely unremarkable return, notable for his prowess in the lineout and one kick-off recovery that led to a Tristan Roberts penalty.

But clearly Rodwell is feeling his way back into form and he hopes to extend that development against London Welsh tomorrow.

The theory is his part-time, full-time arrangement will raise the bar higher than even last season when he was one of the outstanding forwards outside of the Premiership. “Before I got injured I was raring to go,” he said.

“After a good pre-season I was fitter and definitely stronger because everything I did was focused on rugby.

“For that last four or five years I’ve been involved in the community going into primary schools and coaching, to just concentrate on rugby is brilliant.”

Indeed Rodwell argues the sore opened by getting hurt on Worcester duty has been ameliorated by the care and attention they have devoted to his rehabilitation.

“They’ve been fantastic at Worcester. Clearly Moseley haven’t got the budget to appoint as many physios and conditioning staff,” he said.

“Their priority is getting the boys who are fit ready for a Saturday.

“At Worcester the injured guys get as much time as the fit ones.”

And there we have it. The schism in Rodwell’s current situation.

It is one he manages well. “Both clubs have been brilliant. I am a Moseley player and I enjoy playing again after being out,” he added.

“It’s great training with guys with such big reputations – when I can – but I just want to have a successful season with Moseley.”

Another step can be taken at Billesley Common this weekend.

All the noise emanating from the Red and Black camp is that the Exiles’ league position – not helped by a five point deduction for failing to tell the RFU they were going into administration – is false.

Indeed the Old Deer Park outfit are one of the form sides in the division and will be a tough nut to crack.

“These are the sort of side we need to be beating,” Rodwell insisted.

“If we just look around the league and say we can’t play such and such because they’re full time – we’ll finish bottom.

“Most teams are fully professional, that doesn’t mean to say we shouldn’t beat them.”