Pat Sanderson - The PRA Q&A

Pat Sanderson answers your questions in the PRA Q&A.

PRA Q&A
October 2005 - Pat Sanderson

Every month PRA - the Professional Rugby Players' Association - is giving you the chance to quiz a top player from the game.

Hot on the heels of PRA Chief Damian Hopley in September, this month your questions are answered by England and Worcester flanker Pat Sanderson.

Read on to find out about fighting with his brother Alex of Saracens, feeding stingray and life after rugby.

In November, as England builds up to the autumn internationals, it will be Pat's England team-mate Danny Grewcock's turn. So send in those questions by clicking on the link below.

Email Danny Grewcock here

 
I play rugby in Wales for a local village side and a friend of mine, who has not played for a while but has just started back playing after eight years, is overwhelmed by the physicality of the game and he feels like quitting now. In your experience do you think it's harder to get into the game now than it was five or six years ago? I play hooker, I find it tough but I'm used to it. So do you agree it's difficult for people who haven't played for a while? Thanks Dylan Morris, Swansea.

Pat Sanderson: Rugby is a tough game and always has been and I think it does depend on what level you play at. The higher you go the harder it gets and every year the bar gets raised as the players get bigger, fitter and faster. If I compare this year to last year it is definitely tougher.

Pat, it must be extremely frustrating for you and all the players with the ongoing club versus country row hanging over the game. Surely you must hope they sort it out quickly so that the focus can be placed back on the action on the field? Alex, Kew.

PS: From the players' point of view we have good people representing the players and there are good people working on behalf of the clubs and the country. For that reason the players can largely leave it alone and get on with what we do and be confident that the PRA will get our point across. I don't think it has really affected the players, obviously in the public eye it is a major story but the players just get on with it and I think that shows the way they turn out every weekend.

Hi Pat, What is your view of foreign players in the Premiership?  My feeling is that the top players can bring a great deal to the competition but that the majority are mediocre at best.  Is it time for the RFU and the clubs to look at bringing our own talent through, rather than bringing in foreign imports? Maybe a system such as the county cricket rules on foreigners? Chris, London.

PS: Well I think there are certainly incentives in place to bring our young players through which certainly is important. I certainly do