Harlequins is one of the most famous clubs in world rugby. With a reputation as a family club and 150 years of history to its name, it’s no wonder some of the country’s top talent are now part of the Quins family: including club captain and England scrum-half Danny Care.
Ahead of Quins’ annual Big Game fixture, which takes place at Twickenham Stadium on 27th December, Danny speaks exclusively to Square Mile.
You were a very promising young footballer – what made you opt for rugby?
I was still playing football aged 15 and was basically told I was too small and so wouldn’t be playing much. So I left the club I was at, went back to my local football club but carried on playing rugby at school. All of my teammates were trying to get me to play club rugby and we went on a lads and dads tour to Dublin, played rugby and I thought ‘This is pretty cool’. From that moment, I chose rugby and never looked back. It’s a bit weird being told you’re too small for football and then taking up rugby! It just goes to show that rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes.
Who were your sporting heroes growing up?
It was mainly footballers for me. I’m a big Liverpool fan so my heroes were the likes of Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Steven Gerrard. I do love David Beckham as well though but he’s the only Man United player that makes it in!
What have you sacrificed for rugby?
We’re incredibly lucky to get paid to do what we love to do but with that there are obviously some sacrifices that you have to make too. You’re pretty much thrown into a full-time career from school, and you’re away from your family quite a lot. I’ve got a young lad so it’s hard being away from him and my wife but, as I say, we’re incredibly lucky to do what we do, and I wouldn’t swap it for anything.
Best thing about being a rugby player?
Doing what you love to do every day. You go to work with 30 of your best mates and have a laugh – even though it’s hard work you’re all there to pull each other through. That’s exactly how it is playing for Harlequins – it’s like going to work with some of your best mates.
And the worst?
Pre-season training is pretty horrible! I’ve done 12 pre-seasons as a professional and I still don’t enjoy them. This year’s was pretty bad and last year’s before the World Cup was awful.
What is the biggest misconception about being a professional rugby player?
You speak to a lot of people and they seem to think that because we play rugby for a living, it’s easy. We are very lucky but it is also very hard being a professional sports player. It’s hard on your body and your mind – it can be quite mentally draining and life is a bit of a rollercoaster. One minute you’re up after a good win, the next minute you lose and you feel horrendous. It may seem easy but when you’re playing in the spotlight, with all the criticism that comes with that, it can be tough.
What do you consider your finest moment on a rugby pitch?
Winning the league with Harlequins in 2012 is without a doubt the best feeling I’ve ever had on a rugby pitch. To do it with 30 of the lads who I grew up with for the past eight or nine years was special. We were top of the league for virtually the entire season, finished top and then got through to the final to win it. It really was our year. It’s just annoying that we haven’t been able to do it again since, but I’m confident we will in the future. [Continued below.]
Gun to your head, would you rather win the World Cup or beat New Zealand with the Lions?
Win the World Cup.
You’ve been with Harlequins for a decade now. What changes have you experienced in the club?
This is my 11th season with Harlequins now and we’ve grown dramatically as a club since I joined. 11 years ago we were training at Roehampton on a public playing field and now when you look at the world-class facilities we have here at Surrey Sports Park, it’s amazing how much that has changed.
Many of the coaches have stayed the same, which is great for the identity of the club, and the likes of Nick Easter have gone from a playing role to a coaching role. We’ve kept the heart of the club together. We’ve grown as a team and had the most success the club has ever had in the last five or six years. The club also spends a lot of money to make sure we have the best resources available in terms of analysis, tracking performance and progress so we are very fortunate.
Clearly you’ve had a great relationship with Quins. What makes the club so special for you?
The main reason is the way we play the game and the freedom we have from the coaches to play ‘the Quins Way’. We’re encouraged to go out there, throw the ball around and have fun. The past couple of years have been a bit disappointing for us and we haven’t quite hit the heights we want to but hopefully in the next couple of seasons we’ll get back to where we want to be and in the hunt for trophies
Off the pitch, what makes Harlequins special is the fact it’s the true London club. It also gives you the opportunity to live and work so close to the capital. Playing in front of a packed Twickenham Stoop is an unbelievable feeling and we’re also just across the road from Twickenham Stadium, where we’ll be playing Big Game 9 against Gloucester. This is a huge season for us, with it being our 150th year and I’m very proud to play for, and captain, this club. [Continued below.]
If you could clone one of your teammates – past or present – to play in every position but yours, who would it be?
I’d bring Jordan Turner-Hall back. He’s my best mate and he sadly had to retire a couple of years ago due to injury. On his day he was unstoppable and he was a huge part of that Quins Premiership-winning team in 2012.
James Haskell recently nominated you as the England player he’d sleep with – who would get your vote?
First things first, it’s a good choice from Haskell. Assuming I can’t choose myself I’d go for Henry Slade. He’s a slick, smooth operator and very well-groomed.
Congratulations on your wedding! You hit Ibiza for the stag do – any good stories you can share?
Thank you! Seeing Nick Easter with a couple of beers down him was entertaining enough. Ugo Monye also refused to go swimming because he’s scared of the water. We were on a yacht, with loads of boys toys like jet skis – literally a boy’s dream – and Ugo wouldn’t get off the boat because he was scared. There were a few penalty drinks for him as a result of that.
Do you have any regrets from your career?
No regrets.
What ambitions do you have left in rugby?
We want to win the Premiership again at Harlequins. We did it once in 2012 and haven’t really been close to doing it again since so that’s a huge ambition for me. Aside from that I want to play as many times as I can for Quins, continue to enjoy my rugby and help England win the World Cup in 2019.
Danny Care is club captain and scrum-half for Harlequins. Visit Quins online or follow the club on Twitter
