Catt: BaaBaas cameo is not my swansong
VETERAN fly-half Mike Catt has dismissed suggestions that tomorrow’s run-out for the Barbarians is set to be his final hurrah in professional rugby.
Catt was expected to call time on his glittering 17-year career when he turns out for the star-studded Baa Baas against his former England team-mates at Twickenham.
But the 37-year-old insists he has no plans to hang up his boots just yet, and is looking forward to the challenges of a new Premiership season with London Irish.
His fellow England legends Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey are making their Twickenham bows in a Baa Baas shirt tomorrow, but evergreen Catt insists he is not yet ready to join them.
“I’m really enjoying my rugby at the moment with London Irish and while I’m still getting opportunities to play with world class players like we have in this Barbarians squad, what would be the point in retiring,” Catt insisted.“London Irish have a few injury problems at fly-half at the moment – and long-term too – so I continue to be an option for the coach Toby Booth as long as he wants me. The body’s fine, it just takes longer to recover!
South African-born Catt is assisting Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young in leading the Barbarians, but he is also being lined-up to make a 20-minute cameo appearance as a farewell to the Twickenham crowd.
There he lines up a plethora of world stars including Leinster and Australia’s Rocky Elsom, New Zealand wing Doug Howlett, Irish centre Gordon D’Arcy and England’s Iain Balshaw.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE
A World Cup winner in 2003, Catt called time on his 13-year international career back in 2007, winning 75 England caps. But strangely, he insists leading a side out against the famous white shirts at Twickenham, will not be a strange experience.
“I’ve not really thought about how strange it might be,” he went on. “I’m stoked to be playing against England, I’ve just thought about what a fantastic spectacle it’s likely to be. The Barbarians side is full of internationals and legends of the game and we hope to entertain the crowd as much as possible with a free-flowing game.
Catt is hoping for a more memorable Twickenham experience than his last, a fortnight ago, when his London Irish side were edged out 10-9 by Leicester in the Premiership final.
Now, the idea of assisting coach Booth and aiming to go one better next year has given the veteran a new lease of life. “I’m loving the coaching scene. It’s a pleasure to be working with Toby and such a great, honest bunch of lads. They can tell me when I make mistakes and I can learn from that.”
Tickets for England v Barbarians are priced from £25 adults, £10 juniors and are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk, by calling 0844 8472492 or on the gate at Twickenham.