Some disappointments can stay with you for a lifetime, but in the case of the current interim CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union, Nigel Walker, the pain of missing out on a trip to the Rugby World Cup has finally subsided.
“We felt really nervous because we knew that if we messed it up, we weren’t going to go to the World Cup. The overriding emotion afterwards was personal satisfaction, because I’d played reasonably well, and that was coupled with the fact we played well as a team,” recalled Walker about his four try blitz.
“In the game against Spain, Ieuan scored a hat-trick and I got one and we were on our way to the World Cup. I thought I’d be going, but then I got injured and couldn’t go.
“I dislocated my shoulder in February or March and Alan Davies, who was the national coach at the time, told me not to get in repaired because I wouldn’t then be able to go to the World Cup. I didn’t get it repaired, Alan lost his job just before the World Cup and my club coach, Alex Evans, took over but felt it was too much of a risk so didn’t pick me.“It is a case of what might have been, but there are lots of players who could have gone to World Cups who haven’t. I was devastated, but that’s sport. Thirty years on and I can now say I’m over it.”
Walker is currently in France watching Wales play in Pool C at the 10th World Cup. After the win over Fiji in round one, all attention now turns to the second game against Portugal in Nice.
“Qualification routes are different now to when I was playing. Back in those days, there was a lot of pressure on those games,” added Walker.
” Portugal are a different side now and there won’t be any complacency whatsoever. They beat the USA 46-20 recently.
“Everyone is delighted with the win against Fiji and now everyone is concentrated on the Portuguese.”
