I was very proud to be given a testimonial

ONE of the biggest things that I will take from my rugby career, over and above any personal milestones or accolades, is the connection that it gave me and my Dad, who sadly passed away last April.

- PAT TAPLEY

As a proud Welshman, he was rugby mad and I used to love watching Six Nations matches with him and talking about the game in general.

From what he told me, he was meant to be quite a good winger himself, and a rapid one at that as he was Welsh Schoolboys 200m and 400m champion. Sadly, he had to give it up quite young after he badly dislocated his knee and ended up in hospital for nine months. It was nice to inherit some of his pace, but I'd never class myself as an out-and-out gas merchant, I was more of a run-straight-at-you-type winger.

I grew up in a village just outside Newmarket and played for the town club.

Our garden pretty much backed on to where the rugby field was, so I was playing there from about five years old and was coached by my Dad as I went up through the different age groups.

Shelford were our biggest rivals, they had all the money and all the kit, whereas we were a ragtag mob, so we used to enjoy getting one over on them. We won the County Cup a couple of times, and we went one season unbeaten, beating strong teams like Diss and North Walsham along the way.

Eastern Counties was never really on my radar. It's sad to say but lads who went to the right schools and knew the right people largely got picked, whereas I went to Soham Village College, a state school.

For me, it was all about playing with my mates at Newmarket and as my career path shows, I was very much a club orientated player. Once I'm in, I'm all in. I've definitely had more hairstyles than clubs; I get bored easily!