Barbarians fun: 'They dressed me up and tied boxing gloves to my hands'
She’s a player who has ticked off practically everything on a rugby player’s CV. Throughout her long career, Rocky Clark has secured a Premiership title with Worcester Valkyries, won the Six Nations multiple times and became a world champion in 2014, as well as being England’s most-capped player.
This week the trend continues as she adds a third Barbarians cap to her name with the 40-year-old named in the squad for the clash at Twickenham against the Springboks.
“I’m over the moon, I absolutely love playing for the Baa Baas, it’s such a wonderful experience and vibe and takes you back to the roots of why you started playing rugby,” said the Saracens prop.
“The week leading up to the match is really important that we bond off the pitch really quickly. Pretty much everyone is an international so they’re already at a very good standard so it’s about putting basic structures in place and maybe trying a few fancy things as that’s what you do in a Baa Baas shirt.
“I love that you meet and play with people you’ve gone to war with on the pitch for many years and they become friends for life. I really enjoyed playing against Fiao’o Fa’amausili the former New Zealand captain last time, for many years we’d been up against each other, and I hadn’t known her off the pitch but there’s now a really good picture of me hugging her when she scored a try in our last Barbarians match- it’s what rugby is about.”
Get in!!!! Next stop @Barbarian_FC with @katymc10 and @huntie_1 ?????????? @Springboks @WomenBoks @EnglandRugby https://t.co/oLjoXivNGo
— Rocky Clark MBE (@RockyClark_1) November 10, 2021
As much as the Barbarians brings together players from other countries (there are nine nationalities in this year’s squad) and exhibiting a caution to the wind style of rugby, Clark knows fun will also come off the pitch, and recalls a fond memory.
“Last time we played against England, during the week of the game we went to really important function where everyone was dressed up, all the Barbarians squad were in their polo shirts, smart trousers and shoes and unfortunately it was my Birthday, and as my nickname is ‘Rocky’ they dressed me up as Rocky Balboa to go to this function.
“I was there in boxing gear and they tied boxing gloves to my hands, so needless to say I struggled to eat or drink anything and everyone was looking at me!”
This Saturday Clark will reunite with a handful of former England team mates she’ll be very familiar with including Katy Daley-Mclean and Natasha Hunt, but is weary of the speed they will bring to the park.
“Playing for the Barbarians certainly feels like international standard and I’m looking forward to playing with my old team mates again, except Mo (Hunt) will probably give me a heart attack with the speed of her ball, she makes it such a high tempo game and Katy with her kicking game will equally give me a heart attack from chasing her kicks- it’s going to be a bit of a shock to the old system after a few nights in camp!
“I know I’m old beyond my years but certainly my body is still willing to do what’s needed. I love it and want to make the most of every opportunity I get.”
This is true of Clark in her life outside of playing, with the World Cup winner working in multiple coaching roles, keeps a personal training business ticking over and has been a player coach at Saracens since 2019.
“I sit in both camps at Saracens and have been involved in some tough games recently so have been in more of a player role but last week I was back coaching. I’m learning a lot at Saracens particularly off Juan Figallo who played for the club and recently joined the women’s coaching team, plus he’s a prop so I’m learning from him both from a coaching perspective and picking up a few tricks as a player.
“Life is quite busy for me, I’m also coaching down at Oaklands College in St Alban’s with Saracens Academy U18s Girls Pathways, as well as coaching boys rugby at Bedford Modern School.
“Every session I come away and I’m buzzing. As a Level 4 coach, I want to help youngsters reach their potential, but I’ve been at the top of the game for my playing career and want to be at the top of the game for my coaching.
“One day I’d love to coach an international team, men’s or women’s or a Premiership side men’s or women’s, so we will see what happens in the future.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments