My Passion With Gordon Sewell

“It’s rough, it’s tough, it’s rugby league”

Listening to David Doyle Davidson utter those locally famous words in his radio commentary before every Hull FC game would make my stomach fill with butterflies.

Rugby league does not share the same popularity as some sports in this country, but to me it is by far the most exciting, all-encompassing sport there is.

Rugby league is a physical territorial battle, but without weapons, where tries are scored by advancing beyond the opponent’s defensive line to the in-goal area.

In the case of rugby league, a team will use speed, strength, agility and tactical moves, to break through the opposition’s defence and this means they have to be physically and mentally tough as well as disciplined.

I was inspired to play rugby league by the culture of the place where I grew up.

Hull is a rugby league city and living only a short distance away from Hull FC’s famous Boulevard Stadium, it was inevitable that my interest would develop into a passion.

I did not start playing rugby league until the age of 12 but I was particularly inspired to play after watching Des Hassler, the current coach of the Manly Sea Eagles in Australia.

Des Hassler was the first Australian superstar I watched at the Boulevard. He played a very expansive game and, when we consider how the game is played today, Des was clearly ahead of his time.

He certainly influenced the way I played.

Most of my friends had played from the age of eight but what I lacked in experience I made up for in determination.

In my second season of playing for my local club, Eureka, I was selected to represent Humberside and after winning the regional championships, I was then selected to play for Yorkshire.

This was without doubt the highlight of my playing career. We went on to win the county championships beating Lancashire 6-4 and Cumbria 22-10. In 1995, I was asked to attend the rugby league school of excellence in Lancaster where I was taught to enhance my skills by the likes of John Kear, Alan Hunt and Kris Radlinski, all of whom are household names in rugby league.

I stopped playing last year for Myton Warriors, after picking up one too many injuries, to take up coaching with the club. Once you catch the rugby league bug it never leaves you. Coaching any sport is hugely rewarding but for me, aside from fun and fitness, rugby league is a fantastic vehicle for helping players develop socially. Unlike football, it instils discipline and respect in the players.

I hope some of the young players I coach now will get to experience some of the things I did.