Woollett keen to see repeat performance
Australian Ben Woollett got a reputation as the joker in Jersey Reds ranks, playing practical jokes and winding up teammates, but there's nothing laughable in the dedication he showed as the islanders wrapped up the Championship title.
The try dynamo has become notorious for his backroom antics, but Reds' boss Harvey Biljon, below, admits his light humour was “the perfect antidote” at the season's business end.
Woollett, formerly of Melbourne Rebels and Warringah, scored twice as Jersey fell short of securing a league and cup double in the cup final at Ealing, and he's been a revelation since re-locating from down under last summer.
On settling at Jersey, he told The Rugby Paper: “If you asked me 12 months ago where I would be today, I wouldn't say I'd be going to play in freezing conditions in Coventry or Hartpury, but I've really enjoyed it.
“Jersey as a place is lovely, we've got a great programme we can get so much out of, and for me personally I've found I've been able to learn a lot from the other players and the coaches.
“All I want is to get better and put us in the best position to win games, that's been my focus all season as we've gone hell for leather towards our big goal of the league title.
“We play at some fantastic facilities like the 4G pitches at Coventry and Ealing, as an outside back they're ideal, and after experiencing my first Northern Hemisphere winter, which has made me the coldest I've ever been, I've just looked forward to the weather warming up and surfing this last month.
“The island's an interesting place, I come from a little coastal area in Sydney, a small close community, and Jersey's similar. Its nice you walk down the high street and see people you know, have a chat and a yarn. I'd say to anyone considering Jersey to come over in June or July, and you won't leave.”
While Ben's far from home, he has family in England, and grew close to housemates James Mitchell and Ben Burnell, who he nicknamed ‘Sunshine' in the hope of better weather and some surfing.
In an almost stereotypical laid back Aussie approach, he's taken it in his stride and scored 16 tries.
The 26-year-old said: “It was a big move, I came to learn as much as I could, and Jersey's done exactly that for me.
“I'm lucky our backs coach [Tom Williams] gives the back three a licence to roam around and get our hands on the ball wherever we can.
“ It's been a bit colder than I'd like it to be to throw the ball around, but we work a lot on our skills and backed ourselves in any conditions – that was critical. It's good for us backs to pop up wherever we find ourselves useful and I got myself in the right spots at the right times, more often than not, this season.”
He's set for a second year at Jersey, adding: “Winning the league but losing the cup final was a bit like kissing your dad on the lips, it felt terrible.
“But winning the league was the focus and enough for us in what's been a fantastic season.
“It was emotional on the pitch at the end of the cup final in the huddle, as it was the last time all together. Now it's all about starting again and going for back-to-back titles.”
