From kicking around with Welsh part-timers Neath to facing the world champions at the Millennium Stadium, it’s been an awesome couple of years for Ospreys’ fly-half James Hook. He talked exclusively to www.rucked.com
From Neath to Wales – not bad eh?
Yeah, it’s incredible. So much has happened in so little time. As a youngster, you always dream about playing for your country so, over the last year or two years, I’ve been to so many different countries with the Welsh Sevens squad and internationally with the 15-a-side game, it’s just fantastic and it’s a great lifestyle as well.
How have you managed to cope with your new-found fame?
It’s nice that people recognise you by playing for your country and doing well.
What did it feel like when you were first picked for Wales?
You get everything. You get happiness, a little bit of nerves but you don't want to be a failure, really. You don’t want to let your country down – you want to do well but, as you start getting more caps, you start to relax a bit and sort of enjoy it a lot more.
So when you run out onto the Millennium Stadium pitch in front of a full house, does that scare the life out of you?
Now that is something else – it’s an unbelievable experience. You cannot describe what it means to be a Welshman and to do that. When I was a kid, this is what I wanted to do and here I am, having done it a number of times now. It's something you never forget but, I must say, it’s just a privilege to play for Wales, especially at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. They are, by far, the best fans I’ve ever played in front of. It makes you proud to be Welsh.
What’s the best thing you have done in rugby?
That's a difficult one! There are so many different things. Obviously, going to the World Cup was one. We didn't do so well but it was the whole experience of being involved in it. There was a great atmosphere and it was just superb. Going to so many different countries and meeting so many different people it was just a pleasure to be there.
What do you do to build yourself up for a big Test match?
Different people have different ways of dealing with big games. I’m just one who can’t sleep the night before – I wake up about half-past-five or six o’clock in the morning and I’m up and about then. I can’t wait for the game then and get really excited about it. Other boys tend to get nervous but I tend to get excited. It’s worse if it’s an evening kick-off because you have all day to think about it. I’d rather an 11 o'clock in the morning kick-off and get on with it.
What do you do when you are up so early and have to wait all day for a late kick-off?
Well, anything and everything. Obviously your room-mates are still in bed so you have to get out and do something around the hotel. Time goes a bit slow then so you fill your days up with something and not use up too much energy.
What do you do outside rugby?
Probably think about rugby! No, I just relax and enjoy time with my friends and family and things.
Golf? Don’t most players do that?
Now and again. There are a couple of boys like Lee Byrne and Mike Phillips who play a lot of golf. I go down the driving range and things like that so that I can stay away from rugby when I’m not involved in it.
No Gareth Thomas this week, how important was he?
Obviously, he was a great captain and when he spoke everyone listened and reacted to him.
South Africa would be a decent scalp to take as they are world champions…
That is an understatement! We are desperate to win at the moment and we were down after the World Cup but, we can beat South Africa, things will turn around quite quickly. What has been done in the World Cup has been done and there’s no point looking back on it. We have to learn and go forward and a win over them would be incredible.
And taking the number ten jersey against the world champions from Stephen Jones means you are now in partnership with Gavin Henson who is at inside centre?
Gavin is coming back to his best and he brings out the best in me. It’s nice to be involved with him for the Ospreys and also for Wales.
Beyond the game, what are your targets?
Short term is to cement a place in the Wales team and try and help Welsh rugby come back up to where we know we can be. The Ospreys also have great ambition in Europe and we would like to do well there too.
