Dave Attwood, a very proud home-owner
The new Bath lock puts down his power tools to chat to Bea Asprey
RUGBY WORLD: What will you miss about Gloucester?
Dave Attwood: The Shed. I’m yet to encounter fans as vocal as Gloucester’s.
RW: What’s exciting about moving to Bath?
DA: The fresh start. It’s a squad in transition and I’m looking forward to helping to forge the direction of the club with new team-mates.
RW: Who are the jokers with England?
DA: Haskell’s the king of the jokers in the senior squad. But the Saxons are a bit younger and not as confident. I’ve been impressed with Tom Johnson’s banter, though, and Billy Twelvetrees and Jordan Turner-Hall are jokers.
RW: If your house was on fire, what three things would you save?
DA: My new bed. It’s a super-king size with a supportive, deep-filled mattress. The bath tub, a big Victorian roll-top which wasn’t expensive but took ages to find. And my dog, Alfie, a black labrador.
RW: Have you got any good nicknames?
DA: I had the Quaffer at Bristol because I was partial to a drop of wine. But at Gloucester just Atters, or Big Dave.
RW: Any phobias?
DA: I’m scared of heights, which is odd for a tall man, although I’ve found out quite a lot of tall people are the same.
RW: And bugbears?
DA: It annoys me when you give someone a lift and they leave rubbish in the back of your car, like Will James!
RW: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
DA: Super speed. I’m trying to do up my new house in Bath before I have to be out of my flat. I’ve got no idea how I’m going to get it all done!
Cincinnati Bengals player Chad Ochocinco
RW: Who’d you like to be stuck in a lift with?
DA: James Corden. Or the American Footballer Chad Ochocinco (left), because some of their banter is a million miles removed from what we’ve got here. I’d like to be a fly on the wall with Dave Flatman and him!
RW: Top three dinner party guests?
DA: Pippa Middleton, Ryan Giggs and Ricky Gervais, because he’d have no qualms about discussing any of the things we’d like to discuss at dinner!
RW: What couldn’t you live without?
DA: Power tools and collar stiffeners. I hate having an untidy collar.
RW: What’s your idea of a dream holiday?
DA: I had one last year. I was in a spa for a week on a beach in St Lucia. I did absolutely nothing!
RW: What’s your favourite cuisine?
DA: I like English food, like pies and stews and mashed potato. But I love Italian food. Pizza, risotto, ragús…
RW: Any bad habits?
DA: Correcting other people’s grammar. I’m no saint myself, but I still correct others!
RW: How do you switch off from rugby?
DA: It depends on the time of year. I’ve played a lot of Call of Duty, but not for a few months. At the minute I’m having a whale of a time sanding down a coal chute!
RW: Any regrets?
DA: Stamping on Petrisor (Toderasc, the La Rochelle prop). It had a significant impact but I’m moving in the right direction again. (video below)
RW: What three things would you take to a desert island?
DA: Plenty of reading material. Fresh towels, because it’s annoying when your towel gets sandy. And a lilo.
RW: What would you like to achieve outside of rugby?
DA: I like physical challenges, and I’d like to climb Kilimanjaro. I cycled round Iceland with Bristol, and the year before we kayaked the Norwegian fjords.
RW: Who have been your best and worst room-mates?
DA: The best was Alex Brown because he’s clean and tidy. I’m not great because I snore! And maybe Paulie (Doran-Jones) because you have to put up with his brutal banter.
RW: How would you like to be remembered?
DA: As someone who’s practical and useful. And as someone who achieved things, both in a rugby sense and wider scheme of things.
The only regret Dave Attwood has…
This article appeared in the August 2011 issue of Rugby World Magazine.
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