MONYE’S RESURRECTION
Ugo Monye's rugby career has undertaken a miraculous resurrection following a full recovery from an injury that rendered him immobile while watching England’s efforts in the World Cup 14 months ago. The Harlequins winger, who earned representative honours for England Under-19s and U-21s, and also starred for England Sevens and the Saxons, vowed while supine, suffering from a bulging disc, to work harder than ever before to break into the full England team. In a remarkable turnaround, Monye will line up for his third international against South Africa alongside good friends Paul Sackey and Delon Armitage at Twickenham.
“I felt like a baby,” admits the 25-year-old paceman, who was only promoted by manager Martin Johnson to the elite squad after the injury to Gloucester’s James Simpson-Daniel, of his week in bed last year. “But I really pushed myself as I wanted to prove that I was good enough to win a full cap.
“It was great to meet up with the squad three weeks ago, and training has been going very well. The Pacific Islanders [a 39-13 win on his debut] was a great game for us and spirits are high, even though we lost against Australia [28-14]. I've thoroughly enjoyed my start with England.”
Islington-born Monye’s sporting life could have taken a very different course almost a decade ago, after he ran the 100 metres in 10.6 seconds aged 16. He whittled that time down to 10.46 seconds and appeared in the English Athletics Association Championship, making it to the national trials where he ran alongside now-Olympians Mark Lewis-Francis and Tyrone Edgar.
But it was UK Athletics sprint coach Tim Richards who helped shape young Monye’s career, when he contacted Harlequins U-19s coach, Colin Osbourne, who offered him an academy contract.
The 6’ 2” flyer had played rugby since the age of 13 and represented Hampshire U-17s and U-20s, after starring for Lord Wandsworth College. In the Hampshire countryside young Monye’s decision was further influenced by two of the school’s alumni a few years above – a certain Jonny Wilkinson and Pete Richards.
After making his Harlequins bow in 2002 and underlining his potential with a brace against Wasps at the end of the season Monye suffered double disappointment with relegation and a string of niggling injuries causing him to be overlooked for the national team.
The strict Christian, a group leader at Holy Trinity Church in Brompton, West London, used the emotional hurt of his disappointments to channel his energies – and his faith and determination has paid off. He is now thriving in Johnson’s new-look England team.
“It's been good fun,” continues Monye, “and Martin has given me his faith. I've played the last two games and I'm selected to play this one [against the Boks]. All I know is that if I keep playing well then I want to make it difficult to lose my spot, though it would be great to score my first international try soon.
“We're a new squad, we've only been together for three weeks and each week we are making improvements. Although we lost to Australia we feel as if we have made another step in our work in progress.
“Our discipline probably was our biggest problem against Australia but there were other reasons why we didn't win that game. Our execution at times was a bit poor – we missed a lot of opportunities, so there are certainly a few things to work on.
“But we're very positive within the camp this week, we're working hard and we know the size of the task we have ahead of us against South Africa and then the All Blacks. More than anything there's huge excitement and a willingness to get back on the pitch to put things right.”
Monye makes up one third of Johnson’s preferred back three. London Irish’s full-back Delon Armitage made his debut alongside Monye against the Pacific Islanders and was named man-of-the-match. On the opposite wing to the Quins player is Wasps Paul Sackey – a relative veteran of international rugby in comparison who will win his 18th cap against South Africa. The three know each other well, and affectionately call themselves the ‘black three’.
“It is fairly apparent and fairly obvious the reasons why we call ourselves the ‘black three’,” adds Monye, “it's all tongue-in-cheek. We're getting on very well.
“Socially we've known each other for five or six years and it helps when you're standing on the pitch. Delon lives down the road from me and I've known Paul for years. We're a new unit as a back three and we play a similar brand of rugby - it's an absolute pleasure to play alongside them.”
Ugo Monye's rugby career has undertaken a miraculous resurrection following a full recovery from an injury that rendered him immobile while watching England’s efforts in the World Cup 14 months ago. The Harlequins winger, who earned representative honours for England Under-19s and U-21s, and also starred for England Sevens and the Saxons, vowed while supine, suffering from a bulging disc, to work harder than ever before to break into the full England team. In a remarkable turnaround, Monye will line up for his third international against South Africa alongside good friends Paul Sackey and Delon Armitage at Twickenham.
“I felt like a baby,” admits the 25-year-old paceman, who was only promoted by manager Martin Johnson to the elite squad after the injury to Gloucester’s James Simpson-Daniel, of his week in bed last year. “But I really pushed myself as I wanted to prove that I was good enough to win a full cap.
“It was great to meet up with the squad three weeks ago, and training has been going very well. The Pacific Islanders [a 39-13 win on his debut] was a great game for us and spirits are high, even though we lost against Australia [28-14]. I've thoroughly enjoyed my start with England.”
Islington-born Monye’s sporting life could have taken a very different course almost a decade ago, after he ran the 100 metres in 10.6 seconds aged 16. He whittled that time down to 10.46 seconds and appeared in the English Athletics Association Championship, making it to the national trials where he ran alongside now-Olympians Mark Lewis-Francis and Tyrone Edgar.
But it was UK Athletics sprint coach Tim Richards who helped shape young Monye’s career, when he contacted Harlequins U-19s coach, Colin Osbourne, who offered him an academy contract.
The 6’ 2” flyer had played rugby since the age of 13 and represented Hampshire U-17s and U-20s, after starring for Lord Wandsworth College. In the Hampshire countryside young Monye’s decision was further influenced by two of the school’s alumni a few years above – a certain Jonny Wilkinson and Pete Richards.
After making his Harlequins bow in 2002 and underlining his potential with a brace against Wasps at the end of the season Monye suffered double disappointment with relegation and a string of niggling injuries causing him to be overlooked for the national team.
The strict Christian, a group leader at Holy Trinity Church in Brompton, West London, used the emotional hurt of his disappointments to channel his energies – and his faith and determination has paid off. He is now thriving in Johnson’s new-look England team.
“It's been good fun,” continues Monye, “and Martin has given me his faith. I've played the last two games and I'm selected to play this one [against the Boks]. All I know is that if I keep playing well then I want to make it difficult to lose my spot, though it would be great to score my first international try soon.
“We're a new squad, we've only been together for three weeks and each week we are making improvements. Although we lost to Australia we feel as if we have made another step in our work in progress.
“Our discipline probably was our biggest problem against Australia but there were other reasons why we didn't win that game. Our execution at times was a bit poor – we missed a lot of opportunities, so there are certainly a few things to work on.
“But we're very positive within the camp this week, we're working hard and we know the size of the task we have ahead of us against South Africa and then the All Blacks. More than anything there's huge excitement and a willingness to get back on the pitch to put things right.”
Monye makes up one third of Johnson’s preferred back three. London Irish’s full-back Delon Armitage made his debut alongside Monye against the Pacific Islanders and was named man-of-the-match. On the opposite wing to the Quins player is Wasps Paul Sackey – a relative veteran of international rugby in comparison who will win his 18th cap against South Africa. The three know each other well, and affectionately call themselves the ‘black three’.
“It is fairly apparent and fairly obvious the reasons why we call ourselves the ‘black three’,” adds Monye, “it's all tongue-in-cheek. We're getting on very well.
“Socially we've known each other for five or six years and it helps when you're standing on the pitch. Delon lives down the road from me and I've known Paul for years. We're a new unit as a back three and we play a similar brand of rugby - it's an absolute pleasure to play alongside them.”
Labels: England, Martin Johnson, Rugby Football Union, South Africa, Ugo Monye
