majorsporty community - Jamie Noon - England Centre

Jamie Noon - England Centre - A man on a mission...

Written by Mark

Wednesday, 14 March 2007

Jamie Noon Interview - A man on a mission...

In 2003 he was involved in the World Cup warm up matches against Wales and France but did not play a part beyond that. He then played in the last 6 Nations and also the year before that making the shirt his own. On the 6 Nations and World Cup..The squad are working hard and putting a huge amount of attention to detail so they are seeking the next challenge and a benchmark.

Biography and representative honours

Fyling Hall school
Whitby rugby club
Eng u21
England 7’s
England 23 caps
Barbarians

Tell us how you got started and how things developed for you..

Aged 13 Jamie joined a new school in Robin Hood’s Bay which shaped his sporting success and ultimately his career as a professional rugby player with Newcastle and England. To his surprise they didn’t play football at the school, only rugby, a fact he told us he was not happy about at the time. His father had played football for the Army and that was one of his first loves. Jamie, the England centre, started off life in rugby as a flanker and as he says he was in the Neil Back mode, one of the smallest. His forte was that he loved tackling but didn’t enjoy the whole physical side at first and certainly never made any representative sides.

He started playing for Whitby and made the transition from Flanker to scum half, sometimes Fly half and pretty much any of the positions on the back line. His teacher rang Newcastle Falcons and suggested that they offer him a trial. Paul McKinnon came to have look and offered him a place in the academy, at centre. Things moved quickly from there, Jamie enrolled at Northumbria University and began playing academy and university rugby. During 1999 he started training with the Newcastle 1st XV squads alongside such legends as Pete Walton (Scotland and current assistant coach at Newcastle), Inga the Winger (All Black) and Doddie Weir (Scotland and British Lions).

He broke into the Newcastle 1st XV squad and just kept on going. Being under the tutelage of Rob Andrew, the RFU’s Performance Director and an exponent if you are good enough you are old enough obviously helped. He played England U21 at centre and again things moved forward. Jamie was also involved in the England 7’s set up playing with household names such as Simon Armour, Joe Worseley, Josh Lewsey, and Andy Gommarsall. He reckons that this helped his game and confidence playing with good players.

Jamie kept plugging away and whilst the Lions Tour was taking place he was capped on the North America Tour playing in the Churchill Cup against Canada and the USA. He got 3 caps during 2001. In 2003 he was involved in the World Cup warm up matches against Wales and France but did not play a part beyond that. He then played in the last 6 Nations and also the year before that making the shirt his own.

Jamie Scoring last year against Ireland (England 24 - Ireland 28)

Any superstitions or match day rituals?

“I don’t put on my shirt until I go out to play”

Also I don’t delete any good luck messages from my phone until after the match has been played…I kind of want to acknowledge them and their sentiment and wishes”

Training and Diet

Training as a full time professional player and England player involves some juggling of priorities!! Most of their training time is of course with the club. Jamie trains Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with weights in the morning and rugby in the afternoon. Thursday is a day off and Sunday saved for recovery. That leaves Saturday for the game and Friday for team runs. The club training also includes time for organisational and positional meetings.

Jamie points out that the training schedule is hectic particularly during any international series and being away from family and home means that he feels motivated to work and train harder.

His diet is carefully controlled with high protein, high carbs and low fat. He controls it using the GI diet, slow releasing and complex carbs. Mainly he focuses on healthy eating and the necessary volume of calories, which can be tricky but he tells us he resorts to a little grazing!!

Quick Fire Round:

First car: Renault Clio 1.2 (he asked us to point out that it did have 18” alloys, very va va voom!!)
Last CD Bought: The Kooks (we agree a great Album)
Favourite Film: Man on Fire

Most Memorable Match?

England versus Scotland where I scored a hat rick. It was great he said, my wife and son had come to watch, he was only 3 weeks old so it was a really big deal. I feel it was meant to happen, it is the only time that I have scored a hatrick in my career so it was a special and surreal moment.

(Jamie in Newcastle colours)

Who do you respect or rate in the game?

Personally I respect everyone that I play against. It helps keep me on edge and focussed for each game. To be honest at this level everyone has their strengths and only a few weaknesses.

Anyone that you would like to thank?

Jamie’s biggest thanks go to his wife who he is grateful to for sticking by him.

He has received some great support from various sponsors including Airowear (shoulder pads and headgear), Tetleys, Title fitness (nutritional supplements), Hardy and Greys (fishing kit) and Red Bull (which he says helps with that mild stimulant which provides a sharpness and buzz for him).

Any other sports that you would like to have tried? Any sportsmen and women who inspire you?

“I would like to have had a go at Football more seriously”

Jamie rates any people playing at the top of their sport as he knows the kind of dedication and hard work that it demands. As he pointed out it needs that aspiration to keep getting better, to be the best that you can be. He says that helps him to practise in all weathers, particularly when it is cold and wet.

One sport that I really enjoy is Fly Fishing and although I am not particularly good at it I really enjoy that space and time out doors. It helps me to mellow out and be free from all other distractions.

(Jamie playing for Newcastle against Sale)

So what about the 6 Nations and next year’s World Cup…?

“Well its definitely an important time for all the national teams and that means that all the teams are trying to set the right platform and get the right preparation.” In terms of England Jamie says that after the game against New Zealand during the Autumn Series they felt that things were moving in the right direction. Then maybe a step backward with the matches afterwards. So of course the 6 nations championship beginning in feburary will be a massive test for all the national teams involved.

Of course he says there is massive expectation and pressure on the team to perform. The French and Irish are already strong and with Wales injury list beginning to clear Jamie says they will also be a danger and back to full strength. The squad are working hard and putting a huge amount of attention to detail so they are seeking the next challenge and a benchmark. Of course as he says everyone has the same target.

When asked about the change in coaches Jamie said it would be interesting to see how things develop. We are confident that plenty of arm chair pundits will have a view on that.