GLOUCESTER tyro flyhalf George Barton admits he owes a debt to football for helping him forge a career at Kingsholm in the 15-a-side game.
The 20-year-old Spurs fan, who played as a right-sided midfielder or forward, was offered a deal by Cheltenham Town to make a go of it in soccer.
He turned that one down to concentrate on the oval ball and recently drew rave reviews from La Rochelle coach Ronan O'Gara after the French outfit knocked Gloucester out of the Champions Cup 27-16.
And Barton, who has played U18s and U20s for England, claims his football days have given him a kick in the right direction on the rugby pitch.
“Football helped me build me the way I am as a player, as a fly-half especially,” he said. “I am involved kicking a lot and football really built me up. I was always favouring rugby but I was grateful to take as much as I could from that football experience and translate into a rugby environment.
“Your spatial awareness in football needs to be as good as possible to be able to spot space and people. I feel having that awareness helps me in rugby.
“I always wanted to go down the rugby path. I did love football and I still love it now but rugby was always the path.”
Barton had to bide his time at Gloucester as Danny Cipriani and Lloyd Evans filled the No.10 jersey but Cipriani's departure and Evans' injury have given him time in the spotlight recently.
And his patience has paid off – just ask O'Gara, although he failed to list the Irishman when asked for his role models at 10.
He added: “The main flyhalf I looked up to was Jonny Wilkinson. One of the greatest 10s of all-time and someone I always aspired to be like with the way he treated rugby on and off the pitch. It was more lifestyle anything else. He was my main role model but there have been others like Beauden Barrett and Owen Farrell with different approaches to the game who I have learned from and tried to pick up from.
“As a young 10 I wanted the chance to put my foot forward and show the coaches what I could do. It takes a bit of luck and a few things happened and I got the shot. I've grown as a player and it has put me in a good place now.”
By ADAM HATHAWAY
