A 41-year-old member of the coaching staff and a former deaf international player were both called up to take on Gloucester on Wednesday as the Worcester Warriors scraped together a squad for the Premier Rugby Cup fixture.
At one stage, Mat Gilbert, was the only deaf professional sportsman in England, having played for Scarlets, Bath and Worcester, while also winning 11 international caps for the England Deaf side before retiring at the end of last season.
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Talking to the Daily Telegraph, the 37-year-old explained how he became part of Worcester’s makeshift squad, revealing he had not been able to do any training because of work commitments.
“I was asked on Friday if I would play by a senior player and a friend, and said I’d consider it,” Gilbert said. “I had no idea who was playing or had been able to do training because of work. I literally live 300 metres from Kingsholm so will just be rocking across carrying my boots and scrum cap and away we go.”
Meanwhile, with 72 Premiership appearances to his name, Worcester Academy’s backs transition coach, Johnny Goodridge is also expected to run out for the club’s senior outfit against Gloucester.
Prior to his initial retirement, Goodridge represented Gloucester, Yorkshire, Carnegie and Bristol, scoring nine tries in the process.
The duo’s selection highlight Worcester’s desperate attempt to fulfil Wednesday’s fixture at Kingsholm, with the club working hard on Tuesday afternoon and evening to register enough players with the Rugby Football Union, having originally been scheduled to name their side at midday.
Worcester have named a 22-man squad, deliberately not naming a No 19 on the bench, allegedly due to a lack of players as opposed to the availability of shirts
Gloucester have also provided all of Worcester’s staff and non-selected players with tickets for the fixture at Kingsholm. “[A] lovely gesture that is hugely appreciated [sic],” said Luke Broadley, the Worcester team manager.
Gilbert is one of five guest players including lock Ollie Curry, back-row forwards Lewis Barrett and Ethan Parkins and replacement hooker Will Tanner.
Only second-row Graham Kitchener has played so far for Worcester this season. The starting XV also included Ollie Wynn, the scrum-half who has been taken in by Worcester and England centre Ollie Lawrence after he was made homeless when the club’s academy house was repossessed.
The side are next scheduled to play in the Gallagher Premiership against Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, although the status of that game going ahead remains uncertain given staff have still not been paid in full for August.
