As we approach the end of the season we caught up with former Wasps youth player Dan Woodcock, who is now excelling at Newcastle Falcons in their Under18s Elite Academy.

Position?
Fly half

Favourite RU Team?
Falcons

Favourite RU Player?
Marcus Smith

Biggest role model?

My dad, he’s always been there for me, driving me around the country from an early age and is always supportive.

How old were you when you started playing rugby at Cockermouth RUFC?

4 years old

What things do you think you learnt at Cockermouth RUFC that have stood you in good stead as you've progressed with the Falcons?

The emphasis was on having fun and that’s stayed with me, as has the importance of being part of a team. I learned that individuals don’t win games and every position is just as important as another.

How did Wasps help you in your rugby?

Looking back the Age Grade Rugby was very important as it helped me to learn the game and rules without having to know everything all at once. My coaches (Mike Swain, my Dad and the others involved) were always positive even when things weren’t always going to plan. My dad may have had the odd word with me at home if I hadn’t played well!

You're currently part of the Falcons U18s team, how has the season gone for the team so far, and for you in particular?

I started attending the Newcastle Falcons DPP when I was 13. This went well and I really enjoyed the training and opportunity to see other talent in the area. When I reached 16 I had numerous trials as Covid slowed down the process which went from everyone in Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland, down to 100, then down to 60 which then I was selected into the U16 Falcons Academy and trained with them for a block of time. At the end of this process I was asked to join the U17 Falcons Academy where we played against Leicester Tigers and attended training camps at Barnard Castle. I was delighted to be selected to join the U18 Elite Falcons Academy alongside a handful of other U17 players. I was really pleased and proud to have impressed the coaches enough to be selected, this made the biggest impact on my game as I learned so much from the experience of training with a good quality fly half in the year above.

Unfortunately, I got a badly concussed playing for Cumbria U18 and when I finally returned I popped my AC joint in training - the lows of rugby! I worked hard, supported by the Falcons, to get back to fitness and I'm now playing with the U17s as the U18 season has finished. I played my first game last Sunday against Yorkshire Academy starting the game and coming out with a draw of 29-29.

Any advice for young kids thinking about getting into the sport for the first time?

Don’t worry too much about your performance when you’re younger, just enjoy it. You will come across other players who may be twice if not three times bigger than you and you think they are the best players. However rugby is a lot different at a kids age compared to when they grow old to late secondary school where the kids who mature later but have a much better skill set over take the ‘good players’ who may not be as good anymore if they haven’t worked on their core skills that falcons love so much. In their opinion the tight head prop should as good as a passer than the fly-half.

Any big ambitions/goals for the future?

To remain part of the Falcons Academy and be selected to join their First Team Academy. The dream of playing for your country is an ambition for every player. There are currently five players in the year above who play for Falcons Academy that play for England showing that it's not impossible.

Any other sports you enjoy outside rugby?

I used to play a lot of national competitive tennis and local football. I concentrate on the rugby now.

What do you like doing outside of playing rugby?

Catching up with friends and my school work which takes a lot of my spare time as I’m currently studying 4 A levels (Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry)

If you were England coach who's the first name on your team sheet?

Marcus Smith