RUMOURS CONTINUE TO circulate that Sam Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny will be joining the Welsh exodus to France next season, while worries remain over the futures of Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip on these shores.
The WRU and IRFU will be hoping that none of the above have been discussing their options with James Hook, given that the Perpignan star has so immensely enjoyed his two and a half years in L’Hexagone.
After six seasons with the Ospreys, the Port Talbot native decided to step out of his comfort zone and take up a lucrative offer with USAP in 2011. He has since become a cherished part of the Catalan side, to the extent that he is now captain, and says he has loved every minute of his adventure.
I have really enjoyed it. From a personal and family point of view, it has been fantastic and when I left it was probably at the right time in my career, but it is up to the individual.
Hook is “not sure” if the move has prevented him from adding more to a tally of 73 Wales caps and says it is not something he has given much thought to. Instead, he is happy with how he has “grown as a player and as a person” during his time with Perpignan.
While he may have recently been fielding calls from fellow internationals regarding the lifestyle and rugby demands of playing in France, Hook’s more immediate focus is on Saturday’s return leg against Munster in the Heineken Cup.
After a disappointing 36-8 defeat in Limerick, Perpignan must secure a win when they welcome Rob Penney’s side to the Stade Aimé Giral this weekend. Hook is expecting great improvements from his team for the second part of this double-header.
“We’ll want to work on a few things. We’re at home and the boys love playing at home in front of a great crowd but we also have to show up and prove over 80 minutes what we showed for glimpses [last weekend]. We showed some good stuff at times but need to show it for longer periods.
“The Sofiane Guitoune try that was disallowed might have changed things a bit but Munster kept the ball well after that and that took its toll. Next week is, however, another opportunity and it is going to be a tough game. Munster do know how to win big Heineken Cup games.”
USAP at home are a very different beast to the team that turned up at Thomond Park. The Stade Aimé Giral is regarded as housing one of the Top 14′s most fervent group of fans, with no less than 18 supporters clubs helping to create a superb atmosphere there.
For outsiders, the difference in French teams when they are on home soil to the visage that they present on away trips is hard to understand. Hook claims that he is no close to comprehending that conundrum.
I still can’t put my finger on it. We’ve just the one [away] win, but the crowd at home are fantastic and it’s [sometimes] pretty intimidating when you go away from home. There is massive importance in home games, but to give you a reason why is pretty difficult really.
“We have the belief when we’re away as well but it is I suppose a different story at home and we are more formidable playing at home. We need to show that.”
Another fillip for Perpignan will be the return of the likes of Luke Narraway, David Marty, Guilhem Guirado and Lifeimi Mafi on Saturday. The latter will be particularly eager to beat his former teammates and Hook is relieved the centre’s suspension is over.
“Mafi is a great player; a lot of Munster people know how great a player he is and how good a bloke he is. In training over the last couple of weeks he has been thinking about this and yes, he will be bouncing for it. He is a great player and a great asset to our team.”
