CHAMPIONSHIP winner Simon Uzokwe is enjoying some well-earned time off as he awaits the outcome of Ealing Trailfinders‘ appeal against the RFU‘s decision to deny them promotion to the Premiership.
Ealing secured the Championship trophy in style last weekend beating Richmond 60-10 with powerhouse flanker Uzokwe scoring a hat-trick.
The club faced stiff competition from title rivals Doncaster Knights and Cornish Pirates but won their last four games to lift the trophy.
Despite the close run in, Uzokwe believed his side would come out on top.
He said: “I was always quite confident we would get the job done, I was just really happy because we train so hard as a group, and I’m just really excited for the future.
“It was huge to win the league in style, especially after a few of the losses we’ve had and considering we didn’t play particularly well away from home. It was really important to finish well with the appeal as well, so the players wanted to do everything they can to prove they should be in the Premiership by making a real statement on the pitch. We find out the outcome of the appeal at the end of the month, so we’re just waiting to see what happens.”
Uzokwe could be forgiven for describing the trophy lift as bittersweet with Ealing – as it stands – set to be playing Championship rugby again next season, but the 27-year-old says it was an amazing moment in his career.
He said: “It was just pure delight. Individually I’ve had a really good year and ultimately we’ve won a league which you don’t get to do very often.
“So, whatever happens it was an amazing moment and something no one can take away from us. We worked hard all year, that was always the end goal and we’ve got it.
“The best thing about it was you could see on social media people are really against us not being promoted and we’ve gained a lot of support. Whatever happens to know we’ve got that support from people and that the majority of people think it’s wrong, says a lot for us.”
The back rower has had numerous positional changes throughout his career and says he has aspirations to play inside centre at some stage in the future.
He said: “When I was at Ipswich School I played on the wing as I was always very fast, but the coaches thought for me to get the ball in my hands more No.8 would be a good place for me to be.
“I was with Northampton Saints in their junior academy for four years and when we got to U18s they thought I’d be better off as a loosehead prop. I moved to Darlington Mowden Park after that and they saw me as a hooker so I played there for a bit, but I then played a game in the back row and I never really looked back.
“When Dean Richards signed me at Newcastle, the chat was essentially where do you want to play? I said I’ve always enjoyed back row more than anywhere else, so I stuck with it fortunately.
“I’d actually like to move to 12 at some point in my career but I don’t know who will take me on there.”
Uzokwe’s season has come to a close, but Ealing’s Championship Cup campaign has begun and he reiterates the winning mentality in the club.
He said: “We have a big squad so I’m now off for the season. It’s been nice to be able to relax, and I’ve got a few holidays coming up which I’m looking forward to and then I’ll get cracking for next season.
“The cup is a chance for the other boys to show what they can do but ultimately we want to win it and that will be the mentality whoever plays.”
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