This Easter three lucky Front Row members came along to one of our Press Days to interview a Bath Rugby player.  The three journalists in the making were Hugh Tayler (age 13), Midian Orpin (age 12) and Emma Rotherham (age 9).

The questions they posed were fantastic and they certainly put the player on the spot!

Both Hugh and Midian probed Nick Abendanon and Emma got up close and personal with Duncan Bell.  To see the interviews please visit the Bath Rugby TV section.

Hugh with FRONT ROW President, Nick Abendanon

Do you have any superstitions?
I’m not really a superstitious man.  I’m usually pretty relaxed in the changing rooms.  A couple of the guys like to leave the changing room last or wear their shirts in a certain way but I try to just go out there and play my game.

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
I think I would be invisible – invisibility would be pretty good!

What has been the most embarrassing moment in your career so far?
That would be playing for England U18’s.  Someone tackled me and my shorts ripped and I had to take them off so was standing in underwear!  There was lots of whistling from the sidelines and had to have new shorts ran out to me so that was pretty embarrassing!

Who is the longest in the showers?
Danny Grewcock.  I think it’s because if he was done and shower4ed quickly he would be swamped by all the fans so he takes his time to give some other players a chance!

Midian interviewing Nick Abendanon

What animal are you most like and why?
I’m supposed to be the small quick one in the team so would say a cheetah as they are generally pretty quick.

What is your most prized possession?
I wouldn’t say my car as I’ve got a rubbish one so probably my England cap.

You can invite four guests to dinner, who would they be?
Matt Perry, because I admire him a hell of a lot as a player and he helped me get where I am today.  Nelson Mandela because he is obviously a very inspirational person in the world.  Owen Wilson and Will Farrell because he would keep the laughs going.

Just for fun, from the following three: Juan Martin Hernandez, Yannick Jauzion and Victor Matfield; you must choose to become one, be best friends with one and push one over a cliff!
I would push over a cliff ….. Victor, cos I’d have no chance playing against him so push him over definitely. Probably become friends with Hernandez so then would have to be Jauzion.

If there was a Bath Rugby swear box who would part with the most money?
(After much laughter) Pieter Dixon.

Emma’s interview with Duncan Bell

Who is the smartest dresser in the team?
Certainly not David Barnes, not by a long way!  Flared trousers and trainers went out in the 70’s.  I think it would be Olly Barkley, he has lots of nice clothes from lots of nice shops plus he’s thin enough to get into them!

Who is the joker in the team?
There’s quite a few but the player who plays the most has got to be David Barnes.

What is your favourite food?
Lots of things unfortunately!  All of them bad!  But my first favourite undoubtedly is pizza.

Who is always late for training?
Olly.  He’s never on time – takes too doing doing hair and wearing nice clothes!

Who has the coolest car and what is it?
Michael Lipman thinks he’s got the coolest car – he’s got a big mustang but I think Brownie, Brownie’s got a pretty nice BMW; a nice big black BMW.

If you didn’t play rugby what would you do?
I’d be a mortgage advisor (he is one!) for Baxter Bell Mortgage Solutions – just call me or the club and we’ll sort you out!

What is your favourite music?
Stereophonics – a little Welsh band.

What is the best game you have played?
I think the most enjoyable game I have played was…. Actually not for Bath.  The only competition I have won was with Pontypridd when we won the Welsh Cup – that was quite enjoyable.

Who in the team has the grooviest dance moves?
Jonny F!

Who is your hero?
It’s cheese but my dad.  He made me play rugby and I always look up to my dad.

The winning questions in full were:

BATH RUGBY PRESS DAY            HUGH TAYLER
WEDS 19th MARCH                                 AGE 13

1 What has been your most memorable moment in your career so far?

2. What made you start playing rugby?

3. Do you have any superstitions?
   
4. If you could have one superpower then what would it be?

5. What would be your number one tip for a young budding player like me?

6. If you could play another sport professionally then what would it be?

7. What has been the most embarrassing moment in your career so far?

8. Do you have an idol?  If yes, who?

9. How do you prepare for a game while you are sitting on the team bus? 

10. Who is the longest player in the showers after a game or a training session?

BATH RUGBY PRESS DAY             MIDIAN ORPIN
WEDS 19th MARCH                                 AGE 12

1. Which five words best describe your personality?

2. Whose opinion matters the most to you?

3. Which animal are you most like and why?

4. What is your most prized possession?

5. You can invite four guests to dinner, they can be from the past or present, dead or alive; who would they be?

6. Just for fun, from the following three: Juan Martin Hernandez, Yannick Jauzion and Victor Matfield; you must choose to become one, be best friends with one and push one over a cliff!

7. How do you spend your days off?

8. Place the following in order of importance (most important first): SPORT, HEALTH, FAMILY, SUCCESS, LOVE.

9. What do you see yourself doing when you retire from rugby?

10. If there was a Bath Rugby players swear box, who would part with the most money?

BATH RUGBY PRESS DAY    EMMA ROTHERHAM
TUES 25th MARCH                                  AGE 9

1. Who is the smartest dresser in the team?

2. Who is the joker in the team?

3. What is your favourite food?

4. Who is always late for training?

5. Who has the coolest car and what is it?

6. If you didn’t play rugby what would you do?

7. What is your favourite music?

8. What is the best game you have played?

9. Who in the team has the grooviest dance moves?

10. Who is your hero?