Dunn has 'monkey off back' with Bath cup win
Bath hooker Tom Dunn said he has got the "monkey off his back" as he won his first trophy after 13 seasons at the club with the Premiership Rugby Cup on Sunday.Dunn has made nearly 250 appearances for Bath, and is the longest-serving player in the squad.The 32-year-old scored two tries in the 48-14 win against Exeter Chiefs, as Bath ended a 17-year wait for silverware."When you see retired players come on the TV and underneath it says '200 caps or 170 caps' - I just didn't want to be that person where it said 'won nothing'," Dunn told BBC Radio Somerset."I didn't want to be that player or that pundit - if I ever am one - but for me, it's the monkey off my back."I can show my little boy the trophy, show my kids the medals, and I'm excited."
Dunn, who made his Bath debut in 2012, came into their Premiership Rugby Cup team for the knock-out stage of the competition, after a side largely made up of academy players won five out of six matches in the group stage to ensure Bath topped their pool. He said the trophy was a "great reward" for those young players. "Every week in the Premiership you don't see those boys playing, you don't see those boys on the team sheet but they're the ones pushing us, making us better," Dunn added."They're the ones prepping us, running plays that they don't need to learn to make us better. "It's a selfless job and I remember when I was 20, 21 I wasn't playing, that was my role, and it's a tough role to have and this is their reward. They train so hard, they work so hard, and they've got their opportunity and they've taken it."Bath return to Premiership action against Gloucester on Sunday six points clear at the top of the table, as they look to avenge last season's final defeat by Northampton Saints and claim their first league title since 1996.They are also into the knockout stages of the European Challenge Cup, and could win a treble this season if things all go to plan. Dunn said the Premiership Cup win is hopefully just the "start"."Rugby clubs are massive ships and it takes time to turn them around, and I can't speak highly enough of the people in charge at the moment," he added."That goes from the nutritionist Sarah [Jenner] all the way up to the head coach Johann [van Graan], to the kit man Middy [Steve Middleton]. It's such a group effort... and I'm very excited this is just hopefully the start and the beginning."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Courier
2 hours ago
- The Courier
LEE WILKIE: Why is Dundee keeper Jon McCracken not in Scotland squad?
A penny for Jon McCracken's thoughts when watching Scotland over the past few days. The Scotland goalkeeping situation is a complete mess right now. I feel for the Dundee goalie because he must be hugely frustrated when a player who has played nine minutes of first-team football in the past season gets in ahead of him. Yes, McCracken has been out of the Dundee team for a while but he played 16 Premiership matches for the Dark Blues last season. That's more than all three goalkeepers in the squad for the Liechtenstein game. And he did well enough to earn a call-up to the Scotland squad in September. He's not become a bad keeper since then – if he was good enough then, he's good enough now to be in the squad ahead of the younger guys. It must be a massive frustration for players pushing to get into the international setup to see players called up by Steve Clarke even if they aren't playing at club level. It's clear Clarke is annoyed by the lack of options in goal. What is also clear is there are opportunities for guys like McCracken to force their way in. This will be a pivotal season for the young Dundee goalie.
The Courier
2 hours ago
- The Courier
LEE WILKIE: Dundee United must not lose Scottish heart
Dundee United and Jim Goodwin have a crucial summer transfer window. But they must be careful. They face a difficult second season in the Premiership after over-achieving on return to the top flight. You only have to look over the road to see what can happen in the next campaign. There is a squad overhaul set to begin. Key players left at the end of last season and will need replaced. The first player expected to arrive is Moldovan international Iurie Iovu. Goodwin's record over the past few seasons of plucking players out of Europe has been good. Hopefully this is another gem. However, I do hope they don't go losing the Scottish heart to the squad. Guys like Declan Gallagher, Ross Docherty and Kevin Holt were crucial in fostering the mentality that made United so hard to beat last season. All three of those have left, Glenn Middleton is also heading for pastures new. They were all key men last term. All four of them Scottish, too. Replacing them will be hard but I do hope there is a homegrown feel to the replacements coming in. It's a trend I have noticed across the division – Hibs sign an Austrian keeper, Aberdeen go for a few Australians and a German defender, Hearts are signing Norwegians, Belgians and Greeks. We'll see a mix of all nationalities in the Premiership next term. But fewer Scottish players isn't a good sign. Just look at the national team right now, there are not many players from the top flight featuring for Scotland. And we're not exactly excelling on the international front either. From Dundee United's perspective, they may feel they have to shop abroad to be able to compete again in the top six. What I hope they haven't thrown away is that ability to grind out results. I think you really need guys that know the league to help do that. Gallagher and Docherty in particular were leaders in driving the kind of mentality that pushed the Tangerines back into Europe. I was a little surprised to see Gallagher going back to the Championship with Ross County but that does show the ambition in Dingwall to come straight back up. He could have stayed in the Premiership and I've no doubt Docherty could do as well if the right offer is there. United now have to find others who can do that and that is not easy. Everything is about balance for any football manager. Last season had a good balanced squad in terms of quality, experience, youth and variety. It's going to be tough for Jim Goodwin to rebuild that this time around. But people will expect United to kick on. They overachieved last season but now fans expect improvement again. That's the nature of the game. They have set themselves such a high standard it's going to be tough to live up to it. It's a crucial, crucial summer at Tannadice.
The Courier
2 hours ago
- The Courier
Dundee United set for St Johnstone test as Tayside foes agree pre-season tussle
St Johnstone will face Dundee United at McDiarmid Park as the Tayside rivals step up preparations for the new campaign. The fixture will take place on July 15, with a 7.30pm kick-off, squeezed between the Saintees' Premier Sports Cup games against East Kilbride and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Simo Valakari's side will also welcome newly-promoted Premiership outfit Falkirk to Perth on July 8, with a 7.30pm start time. That adds to the previously announced trip to Forfar Athletic on July 5. United's trip to McDiarmid comes just nine days before the Tangerines' first Europa Conference League qualifier. United will also play games against Brechin City (June 28) and Arbroath (July 5), with futher fixtures still to be announced.
