Adam Radwan: 'I still see myself having a long-term involvement with England'
Missing out on the chance to represent your country at the World Cup would be a bitter blow to any hopeful, but Newcastle Falcons winger Adam Radwan has remained resolutely sanguine after finding himself in the unpleasant position of not making England’s 41-man training squad.
Like any player, the two-cap winger clearly found this setback a “massive disappointment”, and did not shirk away from expressing his disappointment at Canterbury’s recent boot launch, but accepted that such setbacks are a reality of professional sport. And like any good professional, it has only made him hungrier to break into Steve Borthwick’s squad in the future.
The 25-year-old was capped twice under Eddie Jones, scoring a hat-trick against Canada in July 2021 and another try against Tonga later that year, but then had to settle for being in and out of camps under the Australian. Borthwick has not called upon the winger yet during his tenure, which is partly down to a self-confessed slump in form last season.
“I haven’t really had a conversation with Steve [Borthwick] about it, but I can admit to myself that I had a pretty considerable dip in form unfortunately at what I would consider to be the wrong time,” Radwan said.
“Right at the back end of the season, I started to pick up a bit. That is the challenge for me now though, I want to really establish consistency and to make sure I am playing my best for the whole season. Although it is a massive disappointment to not be involved, I have had surgery recently so I am not actually fit at the moment.
“Professional sport is full of highs and lows and I think you need to learn to take the rough with the smooth. I feel that is something I am relatively good at.
“What I need to do now is to look at why I had that dip in form, analyse why it happened and improve. I don’t want to build it up into something it doesn’t need to be. It is a setback, but I think it is something that makes you really hungry and what makes you really driven to work hard and achieve what you want to achieve.”
Radwan is actually out of action currently having undergone surgery on his thumb after representing the Barbarians at Twickenham against the World XV at the end of May. He will return to a much-changed Newcastle ahead of next season though.
Of all the clubs in the Gallagher Premiership, the Falcons have seen the greatest change of scenery this summer, not only by welcoming a raft of new players, but a new head coach as well with the arrival of former England assistant coach Alex Codling. Radwan believes that this change in philosophy at Kingston Park will only boost his England chances in the future.
“On a more personal level, it is all about trying to get myself back in the England squad,” he said. “There have been loads of changes at Newcastle, with new staff coming in, loads of new players coming in, all pulling together for this new vision. So it is a really exciting time of year for this club, and for me as well.
“I’m technically ineligible to train because I’m in a cast, but I still see myself having a long-term involvement with England in the future. Going back to the stuff at Newcastle, we have changed quite a lot and we want to play a much more expansive game where we get the ball to the wingers a lot more. Hopefully this will put me in a place to get back into contention to be in and around the England squad.
“If I am playing my best rugby week-in, week-out for Newcastle, then ultimately that is going to put me in a great position to be in contention for the England squad.”
Though Radwan and Newcastle are just on the foothills of Codling’s project in the north east, he likes what he sees so far. He said: “He’s been brilliant and he has got this vision and he is really keen to drive the club forward and I think it is going to be a really exciting period.”
Canterbury Ambassador, Adam Radwan was speaking about the new Speed Infinite Elite rugby boots, watch the launch video here: https://youtu.be/J22Rkyjbogs
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to comments