RUGBY UNION: Oval ball switch pays off

From the Oxford Mail, first published Tuesday 5th Sep 2006.

NICK and Rich Grimsdell have not been surprised by their rapid progress at Chinnor since quitting professional football.

The brothers started on the wings in Chinnor's 16-15 victory over Clifton after impressing in pre-season.

And having played junior county level at cricket, swimming, athletics and football, they have taken to rugby with similar success.

Rich, 23, said: "I played in the first team squad for a year at Gillingham and Nick was a YTS trainee at Wycombe Wanderers.

"When ITV Digital went bust, clubs in the Football League lost a lot of money. Unfortunately I was one of those who were cut from the squad."

Nick, 21, said: "I had two stress fractures in my back at Wycombe and I was told to take some time out."

The brothers then decided to switch to the oval ball after Rich met Chinnor stalwart Jon Brooks in the gym.

Rich said: "We came along and as ex-footballers, got our heads kicked in for a couple of weeks, but we stuck at it and have progressed.

"What I like is that there is a real team ethic, even when you are off the pitch. It's a little community."

Nick said: "It's a lot more sociable than football. The camaraderie is fantastic."

The Clifton game was Nick's first team debut, but it has not all been plain sailing for the brothers.

Rich broke into Chinnor's first team two years ago, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for Oxfordshire, which kept him out for 15 months.

Nick lost a finger in an industrial accident in the summer of 2005 and played the second half of last season for Chinnor's thirds.

Rich said: "I never really doubted we would progress here because Nick and I have always been good athletes and rugby is a more athletic sport now. The coaching has really helped us as well.

Nick said: "I played in the thirds after I came back from my accident, but this year I really wanted to challenge myself.

"I worked hard in training and I think I've proved a few people wrong."

Older brother John, 25, has now joined Chinnor as well and scored a try for their thirds on Saturday, but the Grimsdells' sporting history goes back much further.

Their grandfather Alan Grimsdell played rugby for Harlequins and was RFU president in the 1980s.

Great-grandfather Arthur Grimsdell played football for England and captained Spurs to their 1921 FA Cup victory.

Archive Home