Room 101: Tom Bason – Blackheath lock

1. Long Seasons
I’ve been playing in National One now for 11 years and the length of season is something that needs addressing. It is relentless. If you count pre-season training you’re effectively committed for 10 months of the year – leaving you little time to do anything else like play golf on a weekend. The run up to Christmas is particularly exhausting. There is no let up at all; you go from one Saturday to another travelling up and down the country without a weekend off. They definitely need to factor in a free Saturday before Christmas although it won’t be any of my concern next season as this will be my last in the league.
TRP verdict: It ain’t the National Express, that’s for sure!
2. Dad’s Questions
Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact my old man takes an avid interest in my life and rugby matters, but he takes curiosity onto another level which can get wearing. Minutes after a match has ended he’ll be on to the phone asking me this and that and whether I know the team for the following Saturday. Even when he’s out and about among total strangers he won’t hold back. For example, in a supermarket he won’t think twice about asking a cashier how long their shift is or what they earn. Awkward!
TRP verdict: He could do with some more chilling and less grilling.
3. Chinos
Another good reason to retire at the end of the season is to escape the ‘fashion victim’ dressing room. The worst items are mustard or pink salmon coloured chinos or skinny jeans. Our scrum-half Jake Bedding likes his jeans so tight he wears his sister’s! I’m just a t-shirt and regular fit jeans type of guy. Another bad look is the blazer/tanned trouser combo that you’ll typically be asked to wear while on representative duty. Think Bath head coach Mike Ford and you’ll know what I mean!
TRP verdict: This definitely cuts the mustard