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SLAMMING TIME
Roger Knight24 Apr 2020 - 10:53
From the South Wales Evening Post 17th April 1999 by Robert Lloyd 17th April 1999
Celebrating Welsh victories over England in the Nineties has been as rare as knowing the structure of the national leagues more than two months in advance….So you can’t blame the Welsh fans for tucking into a feast of late, three wins over the weekend, two grand slams, a World Cup final….
Dunvant hooker Craig Hawkins was part of one of those exhilarating achievements last Friday night at the Gnoll as Wales’ Under 21’s ripped apart their English counterparts in a 36-21 victory that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
But there wasn’t much time for Hawkins to celebrate. He was back on club duty 24 hours later in no small matter pf a top of the table Division 1 clash with Pontypool. (Dunvant won 27-23)
Hawkins, along with clubmate Simon Daniel has been a regular member of the Under 21’s squad this season and was rewarded with his first cap in the 78-19 win over Italy in Udine last month. He sat on the bench for all the other 5 Nation’s matches including the impressive win over the old enemy with UWIC hooker Gareth Williams earning the selectors’ nod with some fine displays in an outstanding Welsh front row. But Hawkins, who has caught the eye for Dunvant since returning from a broken leg in January believes this years’ experience will stand him in good stead as he contemplates another season at Under 21 level. “ It was a great experience to be part of a Grand Slam set up” said Hawkins, who was a member of the Wales Under 19’s FIRA side that played in Toulouse last year.. “ It was just good to be involved in the whole thing. We spent time with the A and Senior sides, and it was great to win a cup out in Italy and score a try as well. We thought that we would be one of the smallest sides, but we pressurised every scrum we played against. Winning out in France was the point where we probably thought we were good enough to do the job, although the Irish were the most impressive side we cam up against. We had to play very well to beat them.” Hawkins was back in Dunvant colours against Treorchy this afternoon as the First Division leaders aimed to move closer to wrapping up the title and earning a place in the Premier Division next term.(Dunvant won 46-27) But before then he is planning a brief trip to New Zealand in the off-season. “Slade McFarland, who played for Dunvant before Christmas and stayed with me while he was over here , has invited me to New Zealand for a month or so and I’m hoping to have a few games whilst I’m out there.”
Hawkins will certainly be in good company. Those who watch the action from the Super 12 on Sky Sports on a Saturday will see the larger than life Maori packing down as first choice for twice Champions Auckland Blues.
Robert Lloyd
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Update:
Craig Hawkins moved from Dunvant to Llanelli as Dunvant faded from the top flight where he enjoyed a very successful career. Only last week in an online poll Hawkins was voted into 2nd place of 4 contenders as Llanelli’s all-time best hooker with legend Robin McBride in 1st place. Hawkins, better known to all as “Ripper” also won two caps for the Barbarians. On leaving Llanelli, Hawkins returned to his roots at Dunvant RFC and is currently our Forwards Coach, Strength & Conditioning Coach and is still playing for Dunvant 1st XV in the back row at the age of 40. All at Broadacre are very proud of you “Ripper”
Dunvant hooker Craig Hawkins was part of one of those exhilarating achievements last Friday night at the Gnoll as Wales’ Under 21’s ripped apart their English counterparts in a 36-21 victory that was far more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
But there wasn’t much time for Hawkins to celebrate. He was back on club duty 24 hours later in no small matter pf a top of the table Division 1 clash with Pontypool. (Dunvant won 27-23)
Hawkins, along with clubmate Simon Daniel has been a regular member of the Under 21’s squad this season and was rewarded with his first cap in the 78-19 win over Italy in Udine last month. He sat on the bench for all the other 5 Nation’s matches including the impressive win over the old enemy with UWIC hooker Gareth Williams earning the selectors’ nod with some fine displays in an outstanding Welsh front row. But Hawkins, who has caught the eye for Dunvant since returning from a broken leg in January believes this years’ experience will stand him in good stead as he contemplates another season at Under 21 level. “ It was a great experience to be part of a Grand Slam set up” said Hawkins, who was a member of the Wales Under 19’s FIRA side that played in Toulouse last year.. “ It was just good to be involved in the whole thing. We spent time with the A and Senior sides, and it was great to win a cup out in Italy and score a try as well. We thought that we would be one of the smallest sides, but we pressurised every scrum we played against. Winning out in France was the point where we probably thought we were good enough to do the job, although the Irish were the most impressive side we cam up against. We had to play very well to beat them.” Hawkins was back in Dunvant colours against Treorchy this afternoon as the First Division leaders aimed to move closer to wrapping up the title and earning a place in the Premier Division next term.(Dunvant won 46-27) But before then he is planning a brief trip to New Zealand in the off-season. “Slade McFarland, who played for Dunvant before Christmas and stayed with me while he was over here , has invited me to New Zealand for a month or so and I’m hoping to have a few games whilst I’m out there.”
Hawkins will certainly be in good company. Those who watch the action from the Super 12 on Sky Sports on a Saturday will see the larger than life Maori packing down as first choice for twice Champions Auckland Blues.
Robert Lloyd
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Update:
Craig Hawkins moved from Dunvant to Llanelli as Dunvant faded from the top flight where he enjoyed a very successful career. Only last week in an online poll Hawkins was voted into 2nd place of 4 contenders as Llanelli’s all-time best hooker with legend Robin McBride in 1st place. Hawkins, better known to all as “Ripper” also won two caps for the Barbarians. On leaving Llanelli, Hawkins returned to his roots at Dunvant RFC and is currently our Forwards Coach, Strength & Conditioning Coach and is still playing for Dunvant 1st XV in the back row at the age of 40. All at Broadacre are very proud of you “Ripper”
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