This week England new boy Danny Care comes under the microscope to talk his Quins career, dressing room look-a-likes and pre-season pukefests.

Danny, you were on Sheffield Wednesday’s books as a boy, so was football always your first love?

From a young age I used to play rugby Sunday morning and football Sunday afternoon, but it got to a stage where I sat down with my dad and said we need to choose one.
My brother’s two years older – he chose rugby and I chose football. I think my Dad was hoping we’d both choose the same so he wouldn’t have to travel around as much!
So I picked football - that was before I got to high school, but I still played rugby for my school. I played that all way through really and never really thought much about it or that I could make a career out of it, I just really enjoyed it, but the football was my main priority. Then when that came to a hault from 16 onwards I went back to rugby.

And a good job you did. Let’s fast forward a bit. You were in and out of the Quins side earlier this season then made the shirt your own. You must be pleased with yourself?

Yeah. It was a massively frustrating first year at Quins the previous season. I came down thinking I’d play a lot, ended up not, so I thought this season I’d really have a good chance while Steve So’oialo and Andy Gomarsall were away at the World Cup, but I ended up nearly breaking my ankle in the first game. I missed the next six, played a couple when I got back then the boys came back and I got drifted out again. I could have had those games under my belt to show the coaches what I could do and that was taken away from me with the injury. These things happen in rugby and it made me want to get back stronger.

Dean Richards is a bear of a man, Tap and Go wouldn’t be banging on his door asking for a game, we can tell you.

I knocked on Dean’s door a couple of times! If I’ve been dropped I’ll always want to know why and how I can get back in the team. I spoke regularly to him and to Andy Friend just to see how I could do that. I just needed a good run of games under my belt to settle into the Premiership. Dean fortunately gave me that chance and I’m really grateful to him and the coaches for what they’ve done. Looking back on them keeping me out of the side - I just learned so much from Gomars and Stevie, they’ve been great for me and helped me that much more.

You got out of a sticky patch and made the Heineken Cup in the end, pleased with the season?

Yeah, we weren’t too happy with the way we’d been playing but lot of people forget that we were playing a lot of really good teams at that time and we had some narrow losses. We sat down and thought, ‘let’s try a few new things’. Dean put a few of the young lads in and we really enjoyed playing together. A lot of us had come from the second team together where we liked to throw the ball around and just enjoy the rugby a bit more.

Who do you live with now?

I lived with Stretts (David Strettle) last year, now I live with Jordan Turner-Hall.

Did Strettle give it the big’un when he got into the England team last season?

No not at all, but I used to steal a lot of his England kit and I was known as “David Strettle Plus One” for a while – getting invited to all the parties and stuff!
I was dead chuffed for Strets, he came down south with me and we both weren’t playing at Quins to begin with, then he got his chance and did brilliantly. We always have a bit of banter.

Speaking of banter, any wind ups you’d like to share with Tap and Go?

Yeah there’s always a couple going on. A lot of the lads have nicknames and get compared to celebrities so there are always pictures of people stuck on their dressing room pegs.

What gets stuck on yours?

I get stuff like Chico - any sort of tanned Mexican-looking person I seem to get stuck with. I don’t mind that but a few of the boys get a lot of stick like getting all your boot mud and sticking it in people’s bags.

Grim. We’re cooking, who’s coming to dinner? You can have three.

Cheryl Tweedy, Jenna Jameson, and David Beckham.

David Beckham? Why?

Cos he’s a laugh!

Fair enough. We spoke to Jordan Turner-Hall earlier this season and he chose Cheryl tweedy as well.

Ah, trying to steal her off me is he?

We’ll let you fight that one out. If we could get you a ticket to any event in the world – we can’t – but if we could?

World Cup final in football.

And if we’re buying after the game?

I’ll have a Stella - northern lad.

What’s cool about your job?

I think waking up every day and going out and throwing a rugby ball around.

What’s not so cool?

Pre-season, especially hill training – we’ve got a new conditioner now so hopefully he’s not too keen on the hills but we usually start off with about five and just do more each week up to about ten. There are boys being sick everywhere.

Nice. Who’s the fittest in the Quins squad?

Probably Ugo Monye, but Will Skinner and Chris Robshaw are up there as well

Who was your favourite player growing up?

Matt Dawson. He wasn’t just a passing and kicking scrum half. He loved to make breaks and score tries and I liked his cockiness and confidence as well. I tried to watch him and take as much stuff as I can from him.

Good luck in New Zealand, Danny

Cheers.