Newcastle Falcons vs Northampton Programme

ADAM
RADWAN
“ Getting released by the
Falcons wasn’t going to
be the end for me.
He’s the fly-fishing try machine who gets Falcons fans off
their feet. But as Adam Radwan admits, his rugby journey has
not always been swallow dives and highlights reels.
The prospect of reaching 100 games in Newcastle Falcons colours
seemed a million miles away when the Osmotherly-born
winger fell out of the professional game, but through character
and sheer doggedness he earned his way back.
“When I was in the academy here I remember having a chat
with Jimmy Ponton and Mark Laycock, who were running it at
the time,” says Radwan, whose 99 appearances for the Falcons
have yielded a remarkable 52 tries.
“They basically said there wasn’t going to be a contract for me
at that moment in time, but that I had a lot of potential and the
door was never closed. They were really honest about it and
gave me great feedback in terms of what I needed to go away
and do, but there’s no denying the fact it was hard to take.
“I was gutted because all I wanted to do was be a professional
rugby player, but I also knew that getting released by the
Falcons wasn’t going to be the end for me. I was sure I was
going to give it a good crack and I was really hungry to get
back in there, but if they’d told me at that moment that I was
going to reach 100 games for the club at the age of 25, I’d have
said they were mad!”
Playing his junior rugby with Middlesbrough and going on to
represent both Billingham and Darlington Mowden Park, just
like last week’s wonder-try against Gloucester, Radwan’s rugby
path has not been a straight one.
“It’s been a hell of a journey, and with the benefit of hindsight I
wouldn’t change it,” he says.
“Obviously nobody ever wants to get released by a club but it’s
made me who I am today, and Marko and I have joked about it
plenty of times since. I always wind him up by saying ‘thanks
for letting me go’, but all joking aside I’ve got massive respect
for the way in which they handled it and the fact the door
remained open.
“It made me incredibly motivated to go away and work on my
game, and I’ve seen life away from professional rugby. The real
world is pretty scary – a lot scarier than being a rugby player –
and there’s nothing I’d rather do.
“I love it here, I love the lads and a lot of us have come through
the academy together. That’s also really special, and going
back even further myself and Ben Stevenson were team-mates
for Middlesbrough Under-12s back in the day. To go all the way
from Acklam Park on a Sunday morning to playing together in
the Premiership is amazing, and I’m really grateful for all the
memories I’ve made so far.”
“I love it
here, I love
the lads.”
Conscious of his status as an idol for many of Newcastle’s
junior supporters, Radwan embraces the position, having seen
both sides of it.
“It’s really nice when kids or any supporters really come up to
you and want a photo or an autograph, because I want to get
people excited about the game and help the club to grow,” he
explains.
PLAYER INTERVEIW - ADAM RADWAN
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