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'You get stars that get all the attention, but I'm more than happy to just plug along, keep the head down and still succeed'
James Wilson knows the drill. Bath will play their final Premiership game of the season on Saturday and that will be that, his time at the club will be over.
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It was exactly this same situation a year ago. Salary cap manoeuvrings meant Todd Blackadder couldn’t keep a spot on the roster for his fellow New Zealander. He was surplus to requirement, but wasn’t left in the lurch.
His forced exit from England generated the opportunity to nostalgically return to where it all would have started back in 2003, on the beat with his native Southland in the provincial championship. Blackadder, though, hadn’t deleted the Kiwi’s number and when injuries meant some emergency winter cover was required at The Rec, Wilson was only too willing to return.
“You never know what is going to happen around the corner, and you can take my example,” he told RugbyPass. “I wanted to stay, unfortunately I couldn’t… they [Bath] sort of play on the edge a bit (with salary cap) and unfortunately I couldn’t stick around.
“But I managed to get home and play some rugby, help out my province. I was very grateful for that opportunity and then Todd, with a few injuries, asked me back over. I was more than happy to help out.”
Family ? pic.twitter.com/n5KhZrIOEj
— James Wilson (@_JamesWilson_) April 29, 2019
Now comes a second parting of the ways – and again he won’t be at a loose end. A Top League offer from newly promoted Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars will mean he will celebrate his 36th birthday in July still playing away in Japan. Not bad at all for a utility back some would consider the epitome of a journeyman pro.
Thing is, Wilson knows his place in the pecking order and wouldn’t change a career that taken him all over the place. From the Brumbies in Australia to New Zealand’s Highlanders and Chiefs and onto Bourgoin in France before making England his home since 2012, his time at Northampton and Bath separated by a dabble in the Championship with Bedford.
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He accepts the sport thrives on its star names, but his lengthy journey demonstrates it also has plenty job satisfaction for those below the big earners in the pecking order.
“I owe the game so much,” he said enthusiastically. “It has given me so many opportunities coming from a small town in New Zealand (Invercargill) and to get to play on the biggest stage over here in Europe, it’s unbelievable. You get the stars that come over and get all the attention, but I’m more than happy to just plug along, keep the head down and still succeed.”
His attitude has proven his biggest strength, the characteristic that continues to make him stand out in the crowded marketplace where so many southern hemisphere players aspire to getting contracts on the other side of the equator.
“For me it’s my work ethic,” he explained when asked the secret of his longevity. “I want to achieve and do these things and, simple enough, if I want to them I have to work to achieve.
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“I have to look after the way my body is, especially nowadays. It’s definitely not what it was 10 years ago, but if you work on it and keep to maintained then you’re still going to be able to play the game that you love, do it every day and keep up with these guys. It’s just work ethic. It’s simple yet so effective.
“I have had my fair share of injuries and not being involved in teams or missing selections, everything like that, but I have just stuck to it really. I have just put the head down and just worked.
“I really enjoy playing rugby and it’s definitely a great thing. I absolutely love it and I still do – I still want to continue playing and do great things. I have made some great memories over the years and I’m fortunate to play with some fantastic players, some of the best in the world who would have gone on and won some great things.”
Wilson has done the rounds in Australia, New Zealand, France and England, experienced so many different cultures at his eight different clubs, yet is still fighting the good fight despite the regular upheaval. The moral of his story? The language of rugby is universal no matter where you play.
“I have experienced all these different cultures, but when it comes to rugby everything is just so similar. It’s the same values across the board no matter where you play and no matter what country. I’m moving to Japan at the end of this season, so it’s going to be another new experience, another new culture, but yet I know that it will be so similar and that is why I am comfortable doing it.
“Also, I embrace all these different cultures. I know the game like the back of my hand so on the field is fine. The off the field stuff is just settling in, learning the culture and the people and getting to know the community. As a rugby player the thing you really need to adjust to is just getting out there and experiencing all of that. It makes what you do on the field so much easier if you go out and do that.
The #TrainWithYourHeroes initiative saw @MelkshamRFC u11s get a run around with @bathrugby's stars? @SGUnderhill, @taulupe and @_JamesWilson_ at Farleigh House ?
Stellar support of grassroots rugby by @GallagherUK?
Stars of tomorrow learning from the #GallagherPrem's best? pic.twitter.com/ycJ3K4reoI
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) May 3, 2019
“Mitsubishi DynaBoars have just been promoted, so it’s going to be a fantastic challenge. It’s going to be great to experience Japan during the Work Cup, to see how the Japanese people take on board all the cultures that are coming over.
“They have got the Olympics there in 2020, so it’s like a warm-up for that, getting everyone from all around the world over to experience what is a new game for them. Rugby has been around there for a number of years, but to see it there on a massive scale is going to be some experience.”
What planted the seed to travel the world playing rugby and enthusiastically make Kanagawa his next stop was the presence of stardust in his isolated South Island upbringing. “I was a kid a long, long time ago, but I used to run on the field after the games and get signatures. It was great stuff.
“I remember Simon Culhane, who was local to my town. He was only small stature but he played well above his weight, that was for sure, and he went on and did great things with the All Blacks, especially in the ’95 World Cup. He was a star that I looked up and over the years we have become quite close friends.
“These things start young but if you continue to play rugby and have a career out of it, you make doing lasting friendships and meet some great people.”
Without hesitation, he would recommend to any wide-eyed Kiwis looking to travel and play to readily embrace the English way. “The Premiership is tough, very physical and the season is long. Super Rugby is fast but it’s short and isn’t as physical and taxing.
“There is the travel you have to do with the Super Rugby, which has pros and cons. You go away and see new places, but the body doesn’t really like to travel that much. It takes a toll that way, but the way they game is here, the way it is supported and the crowds you get in Europe, it’s just fantastic.
“It’s a great place to come and play rugby. I definitely would recommend it to everyone back home if they get the opportunity.”
Seven years after he first arrived in England, Wilson’s stay is now over and he will leave for Japan with regret that Bath haven’t done the business this season. Having finished in sixth last season with 11 wins in 22 matches, they had hoped to greatly improve this term and make the play-offs.
It’s time to witness more of these moments, because every minute counts…every moments matters.
Season ticket renewals for 2019/20 now live ?? https://t.co/iLer3LKXin pic.twitter.com/GyBuUa9pYO
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) May 8, 2019
However, that desired improvement hasn’t materialised and they head to Welford Road on Saturday clinging onto sixth place in a campaign where they have won just nine times.
“The inconsistencies are a frustrating thing,” shrugged Wilson, who hasn’t featured in Blackadder’s line-up since January as the casualties he filled in made their return. “We should have been a lot higher than we are. We aren’t happy where we are. We wanted to finish higher.”
WATCH: Part one of the RugbyPass documentary on what fans can expect at the 2019 World Cup in Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
You probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
12 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
1 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
1 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
16 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
16 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
16 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
16 Go to comments