Issue 152

Player's Locker: Craig Emmerson

12th February 2007

For this month's instalment of Player's Locker Craig Emmerson, the captain of the Swansea University Rugby League team, came into Waterfront to give his opinion on how there has been such a dramatic turn around in the team's fortunes this season.

Craig is a third year History student currently working on his dissertation alongside his commitments to the rugby team. His position in the team over the last three years has allowed him to have a unique perspective on the changing fortunes of the lesser known rugby team here at Swansea. The side have gone from winning just five games in the last two seasons combined, to winning four already this season (although one was a walkover) with several games still to play.

This run of victories has left them sitting top of their BUSA league with their "destiny in their own hands" as Craig put it. They still have to visit the Gloucester side that administered the only defeat they have suffered this season, which will be a big ask, but with the efforts of the new coach that has taken charge of the side from the start of the season, the team are still improving and could well turn around the result from earlier in the season to put them in good stead for winning the BUSA league this season.

As captain, Craig is obviously proud of the achievements of the season so far, but notes it is a completely different side from the one that suffered so badly last season. The side has also recruited a coach, Lewis Francis – a Ph.D student here at Swansea, to help with the training sessions, which Craig says has improved all of the team's basic skills and allowed him to focus more on his personal game rather than coaching the team.

Craig has been involved in Rugby League since he was about five, when his father took him along to play for a local side in Pontefract near Wakefield in Yorkshire and he has been playing ever since. He progressed quickly and played for the district between the ages of 12 and 16, also playing in five Yorkshire cup finals along the way before getting an injury that put him out of the game for several seasons.

He only returned to training the summer before he came to Swansea, and straight away got involved with the RL team.

When asked about how he is finding the captaincy he seems to be taking it all in his stride. "I did a lot of the important organisation, like ordering the kit last season." he also spoke of the advantages of having a coach, "I don't have to take all the training sessions now, and there are several enthusiastic players who are happy to help out with some of the work".

As well as his degree and Rugby League Craig also enjoys the social side of being a part of the AU, attending the AU meetings as well as the Sportsnight events on a Wednesday night. However, in contrast to many of the other teams in the Athletics Union Craig disagrees with initiations, he said, "It's a southern thing, although I think the boys initiated me…there were three hours of my life last term that I cannot remember and I will never get back."

The rugby league team are always looking for new players, so if you want a slightly different attitude and a few different rules to Rugby Union then give this a try. They train on a Sunday afternoon on the grass by the St Helens rugby ground at 2pm, so go along and meet the boys if you want to get involved.

Matt Cannon