McCusker: 'I will play anywhere for Wales'
Jan 7 2010 by Rob Griffiths, Daily Post
ROB McCUSKER is living proof there is genuine rugby talent in North Wales, and the former Mold youth player is confident more can be harnessed with the measures being put in place within the region.
McCusker, 24, made his first Mangers League start of the season last Thursday in the Scarlets 14-9 win at Welsh rivals Newport Gwent Dragons, playing at number six in place of the injured Simon Easterby.
And the young back-row is hoping that will not be the end of his stint as a starter for the region, adding: “I hope I can still get more opportunities.
“With the injuries at the moment at the club it’s probably more through necessity than anything else the reason why I’m starting. Hopefully it’s not the only reason, and I think I put in a good performance in the game.
“I came off the bench to play against the Ospreys after Simon (Easterby) broke his hand, but I like to think I am playing well at the moment anyway and am doing okay.”
McCusker, however, is not the only North Wales native making a name for himself at the Scarlets, with winger Andy Fenby (from Rhos-on-Sea) and centre Rob Higgitt (Ruthin) also plying their trade at the Llanelli based region.
But McCusker is hoping this influx of players might be the last for a while, as more emphasis is being placed on the newly named RGC 1404 (Gogledd Cymru).
“It’s nice to have a few lads from up in North Wales down here at the Scarlets, but there isn’t too many Gog accents around the place with those two,” McCusker joked.
“Rob has been over in Bristol for a long time and Andy sounds very posh coming from the Colwyn Bay area, and having lived in Newcastle for so long.
“But it’s nice, I actually travelled home with Andy for Christmas. He dropped me off in Wrexham on the way through and it was nice to have someone to talk to on what is a really long drive back home.
“But I think we could be the last for some time to be coming down here what with everything they are doing in North Wales.”
And McCusker is delighted to finally see some excellent progress being made in a area starved for so long of top flight rugby.
Last month former Grand Slam winning coach Clive Griffiths was unveiled as the new head coach of RGC 1404, and that is a massive positive in the eyes of McCusker, who added: “There are a lot of really good coaches in North Wales, but none with the experience and ability of Clive Griffiths.
“It’s massive for rugby up there that they have attracted a coach like Clive Griffiths.”
But would McCusker fancy a move back home if RGC 1404 became a fully fledged professional region?
“Never say never,” he responded. “I think if they get to where they want to be and are playing at elite level, then you never know. But I’m happy here at the Scarlets for the moment.”
It was from his performances last season with the region that earned him a place in the Wales training squad for the summer tour to North America.
While he was eventually cut from the touring party, it was a big enough confidence boost to the player that he is doing something right.
And the call up has also acted as a spark for the former Wales Sevens player to kick on and make the break through for further international honours.
Head coach Warren Gatland recently intimated he was looking for a destructive openside following Wales’ inability at the breakdown during the autumn internationals.
While he has been playing at blindside for the Scarlets in the absence of Easterby, McCusker has been talked about in the same sentence as Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate as possible international sevens of the future.
But none of that matters to McCusker, who added: “I would play at tighthead if they wanted me too.
“It’s not something I’ve really thought about too much, my first goal is to try and become first choice for my region, once I’ve done that then I can think of going higher. There’s only the four regions to pick from so if you are first choice for that then you give yourself a really good chance of selection.
“But my priority is to play for the Scarlets as much as I can and then maybe give anyone watching something to think about.”
