ALLEN Clarke loved his time in south west Wales so much he has kept a house in Ystradgynlais despite his acrimonious departure from the Ospreys last year.
Now the Northern Irishman is at the helm of an exciting adventure with US Major League rugby club Dallas Jackals – his new home in Texas, close on 5,000 miles away from the Liberty Stadium.
Clarke hopes to play his part in the growth of American rugby and believes he is a better coach for his experience in Wales. The 52-year-old was officially relieved of his Ospreys duties in December, but had left the region a month earlier in confusing circumstances.
Speaking for the first time about his departure, Clarke told TRP: “My time at the Ospreys obviously didn’t end how I would have liked, but I’ve drawn a line in the sand. In times like that you can choose to be bitter or look to the future with optimism and accept it’s professional sport.
“Everywhere you go in life you learn from your experiences. I’m a better person because of my time at the Ospreys and I believe a better coach. I wish the club well in the future. There are so many people there who I have the utmost respect for.
“Life in general, particularly in professional sport, is a game of snakes and ladders. If you’ve enough substance behind you and you go about your business correctly, then there’s always another ladder to climb. For me the bigger picture has been our time in Wales and I speak for my wife Kerry and my daughter Ariane who is a midwife at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil. We have loved south Wales, in particular Ystradgynlais.
This story is from the June 21, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 21, 2020 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I'm loving every single minute
IN THE picturesque town of Pau nestled at the foot of the Pyrenees, Joe Simmonds has found more than just a rugby club; he’s found a new place to call home.
Scoring in Hell Fire Comer was great
SEEING Scottie Scheffler being presented with the Green Jacket for winning golf’s US Masters last week reminded me of the time I was presented with a red one having played my 100th game for Redruth. It might not have the same kudos in the wider sporting world but, for me, it is a treasured item from my four years at the club.
Defeated, but Ukraine show grit and pride
SWITZERLAND was always going to be Ukraine’s toughest match of this three Test series and so it proved.
Crane: Sinckler's an emotional guy
JORDAN Crane feels England have failed to get the best out of Kyle Sinckler during his international career, with the tighthead prop set to be unavailable for his country from next season as he heads to the Top 14.
YOUNG GUNS
Newcastle Falcons have endured a dismal campaign in the Premiership but tyro hooker Jacob Oliver believes the future is bright in the North East as he hopes to follow fellow academy graduates by breaking into the first team.
Hurricanes storm in despite triple yellow
HURRICANES overcame a poor second half in which they conceded three yellow cards to beat Fijian Drua 38-15 and stretch their winning start to eight matches to end their opponent’s unbeaten record at home.
JIFF looks likely to play a vital role
IT’S LOGICAL – as the final stop-start sprint in a hard fought Top 14 season begins – to think purely in terms of matches remaining, points potential, and table possibilities. In fact, with play-off and Champions Cup places up for grabs, and relegation to avoid, such thoughts are not just logical, they’re inevitable.
S Africa is crying out for its own league
IF I remember my A level geography correctly, Africa is moving towards Europe at about the same rate as your fingernails grow which, among other things, suggests that the wholesale, no holds barred, in for a penny in for a pound merging of British, European and South African rugby was a tad premature.
Lion who enjoyed a taste of Italy
ANDREA Gazzi’s grave lies on the Inner Hebridean island of Islay, a long way from the fish-and-chip shop he left behind in Gorseinon.
Furbank: We were spoonfed too much
GEORGE Furbank feels Northampton’s rise this season is down to a pre-season meeting when the players resolved to take more responsibility.