Scrum-half James Grindal has now racked up more than 150 games for Newcastle Falcons and knows it’s star-studded backline better than anyone. He spoke to www.rucked.com…
Hey James, what you been up?
Just redecorating the house. We’re expecting our first child in eight weeks, so I’ve lost my ‘office’ and turning it into a nursery.
That’s harsh. What did you have in it?
A few boys’ things – posters, a computer, the PlayStation, you know how it is…
Looking forward to your first child?
Oh yeah, can’t wait. We got married last June and basically found out straight away. A lot of the lads down at the club are having children, one of them has one due in January…
Must be nice to be among such a close-knit group?
Yeah it is, I’ve been here six seasons now and I’ve moulded in with the group of lads who’ve been here eight or nine years, since they were 17. The likes of Tom May, Michael Stephenson (now at Bath), Dave Walder (now at Wasps), Jamie Noon, Jonny Wilkinson are all home-grown talent and grew up together here. When I arrived from Leicester I just jumped in with them.
You’re 27 now, has your role changed much?
To be honest I do feel a bit older now, there’s a new batch of younger local talent around – it’s something that Falcons seem to really push for and rightly so. We’ve got a number of players in their late 20s and then we’ve got guys who are 19, 20 and 21 who are knocking on the door. I guess it’s just like when the likes of Walder and Noon were knocking on the door of a first team containing people like Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir. It’s all part of the rugby lifecycle I guess, it’s just I’m a bit further down the road now…
Which young players stand out for you?
Obviously, Toby Flood over the last year or so has taken it all by storm. But we’ve got a thing about fly-halves at Newcastle, we’ve got the England under-20 and under-18 number tens here plus Toby and Jonny. And we had Dave Walder before so it must be something about the place. We’ve also got some good young forwards like Geoff Parling and Andy Buist and a young Dutch winger called Tom Visser. He’s 20 years old and only in his second year but he scored on his debut last season. Plus he’s 6ft 4in and about 17 stone, so it’s scary to think of what he’ll be capable of.
How’s things been going for you this year?
Very well. I’m getting to that stage of my career where it feels like I’m hitting my peak. I’m 27 and no longer the younger guy in squad and with 150 appearances I’m kind of classified as the season pro – so I’m trying to take that position within the squad. There’s three of us competing for the same place now – Lee Dickson is a good young player and Hall Charlton has been here right from the start, so it’s a fierce battle. I’m first-choice at the moment but I’m always looking over my shoulder.
It seems Dickson is closest…
Obviously there’s the two of us fighting it out but it’s healthy and you need it for the squad. If you look at Wasps and Leicester they’ve got competition in every position and that’s what we need. He did the get the nod for the Saxons squad though, which is something I’d love to be involved with…
Disappointed then?
Yeah very disappointed, when the Saxons squad was announced I went straight to John Fletcher to ask him why he was in and I wasn’t. At the end of the day though I’ll use it as motivation to push on, the Saxons have obviously gone for a younger blend. This squad is only for two games in the Six Nations, so I’m aiming for the Churchill Cup in the summer. I need to play well for Newcastle though. Maybe I need to be playing more often to get recognised more. Myself and Lee have been rotating but now Fletcher seems to be picking more on form and we’ve won the last three games and I’ve started the last three…
Newcastle forwards seem to be making an effort to shed the ‘slightly rubbish’ tag the press has given them…
When I first arrived the balance and depth in the squad was very much in favour of the backs. But this season they’ve started to change that. If you look at the stats our lineout is one of the best in terms of stealing and winning ball and the set piece has been phenomenal. We’ve got a good blend and the forwards’ coach Peter Walton has really made them take a step up – we might not be the most physical pack but we’ve got a good mix of fitness, physicality and skill. There are better things to come from them too.
Would you say you’re a bit ‘unsung’ compared to the other backs?
I wouldn’t say that. I certainly feel like I’ve been around – I signed for Leicester after school and spent four years there. At the time it was with Johnno and the ABC club (Richard Cockerill, Darren Garforth and Graham Rowntree) and all that – I played about 40 first-team games and managed to pick up three Premiership medals and two Heineken Cups.
And Newcastle’s future…
The club’s ambitious. I certainly feel that we’re all hungry to take the next step. I’ve won one Powergen Cup since I’ve been here and we’re keen to add to that. We’ve got a backline that can run tries in for fun and now that the forwards are taking physicality to the opposition, hopefully we’ll get the press talking about our pack rather than saying we’re underdogs.
You’ve also got your own galactico in Carl Heyman?
Carl was a massive signing too – it really showed where we want go. It’s been no coincidence that the packs really raised a level since he’s been here. Although at the Six Nations we could have three or four of our backline involved with England – they could be classed as galacticos too.
Obvious question, but what’s it like playing with Wilko?
If I had a pound for every time I’ve been asked that I’d be a millionaire.
I know. Sorry.
He’s a phenomenal player and athlete. And the way he conducts himself as person is first and foremost the most important thing to him. As a supporter, he seems to make England tick and the same applies at Newcastle – he brings that extra edge and has an aura around him. He’s a good bloke too so he deserves everything he’s done and there’s more to come from him as well because he’s fighting fit at the moment.
Could your knowledge of his game help your England ambitions?
Well, if we start to perform more to the level where we want to be – i.e. the top four – then more Falcons’ players are going to get picked. And, yeah, I know Jonny’s game inside out, more than any other number nine in the country.
When do you think Newcastle can become one of England’s top sides?
I think over the next two seasons we need to be consistently in that top two or three along with Wasps Leicester and Gloucester. With the players we’ve got we can certainly finish this season on a high. We’ve been floating around mid-table for a while so we need to push on now and really make a statement.
Jonny staying at the club must be good news…
Jonny is the heartbeat of the club been and he is probably an integral part of promoting rugby in the region, so it’s a massive scoop for the club to keep hold of him. What’s more he feels this club will get somewhere – that’s why he’s committing to it rather than going to France or another club.
And yourself?
I’m very settled. I’ve got a contract until July and hopefully I can extend it for another two or three years. I’m a midlander and I’ve where I’m from, but I’m an adopted Geordie now, I love it here.