Campbell ready for Richmond

Saturday 03 September 2016

Glasgow born and bred, man mountain second row Nick Campbell can’t wait to get stuck into Richmond today in the Championship opener.

The 6ft 7ins, former Scotland Under-18 and Under-20 international, says the Reds are raring to go in the capital at the Athletic Ground today (KO 14:00).

The players have been champing at the bit, having returned to training in the first week of June, with just four weeks off on holiday.

Campbell said: “There has been a lot of hard work put in and the boys have trained really well. We have had three good pre-season games but that doesn’t count for anything until the first league match starts. 

“We had about four weeks off, but even when we were away we had specific targets, such as strength and fitness and body-fat ratio, so we didn’t really have any time to switch off. Rugby is 365 days a year now. It is the professional era and if you were working on a business it is all about how much money you are making, whereas we are in the results business. That is the bottom line.

“You hear a few stories about the things old players used to get up to, but they make the boys laugh because nothing like that happens now. We are athletes, professionals and we have to train that way.”

As a kid growing up in soccer-crazy Glasgow, Campbell turned to rugby “because I was no good at football” and although his sporting hero is former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson, he is delighted he took to the oval ball game. “Best decision I ever made I’d say,” he said.

He is expecting a really strong challenge from Richmond today, who won promotion at a canter to enter the Championship.  

Campbell said: “They will have a big crowd there for their first game back in the second tier, but we have to combat that. We are a professional team, they are not. We have had 12 weeks training, whereas I don’t think they will have had that sort of preparation, but none of it means anything until the game starts. We can’t take anything for granted because I am sure they will grow arms and legs in front of a big audience. We have to face that down and respond.

“I think any team we face in this league is going to give us a hard game. It doesn’t matter that much whether you are playing top or bottom. If you look at the table last year, there were ten points separating eight places. That shows how competitive it is.”

Richmond, one of the most famous names in rugby, are certainly back in the big time.

As for Campbell, he is fiercely ambitious to play at the highest level. “I have to focus on playing really well week in, week out and the rest will take care of itself. But I make no bones about the fact I want to go as far as possible, while winning every game I can for Jersey.

“We have a great bunch of lads in the dressing room. There are no egos and everyone is on the same path to go far. You always want your team-mates next to you, knowing they are looking after your back when the going gets tough.

“We have Bedford at home next week and they will always be there or thereabouts. Every game will have different challenges, but for the moment we have to concentrate solely on Richmond. We can’t start looking ahead at next week or where we will be in April or May. If we do that we will come undone. If we perform every week we will be in a good position at the end of the season. Good performances means the league table looks after itself.”