Life after Rugby: Andy Gomarsall
Our series continues as we look back at the lasting memories a rugby player has and what has followed since. Up next, it’s Andy Gomarsall.
A post rugby career in the business world yet not much of a negotiator, holds loyalty dear but played for a record amount of clubs; Andy Gomarsall is a flurry of contradictions.
One common theme underlies it all though: an honest man who knows himself and is desperate to keep things fresh. Tedium, not a pesky back-row forward, was his constant nemesis throughout a career than spanned a decade and a half.
Beginning his career during the turn of professionalism with Wasps, Gomarsall experienced the full spectrum of emotions. Somewhere sandwiched between it all were two World Cup finals, one success and one falling just short. It’s fair to say he got around, but bounce back he did. Time and time again.
“When you learn about yourself, I guess I get bored very very easily if I’m not challenged or stimulated. From a young age I didn’t have the discipline to stay in and keep focused therefore I was tough to manage and could be seen to be disruptive. That’s pretty honest and could be turned into a negative.
“Could I have stayed at one club, that club being Wasps, yes I could’ve done. I left after six years pretty devastated by that. Truth be known I probably could’ve stayed there my whole career and been a one club man.”
Despite his best intentions Gomarsall’s one club dream evaporated very quickly; not always of his own doing. Sometimes powers outside of your control intervene, but he admits to making bad decisions.
Bedford and relegation followed Wasps before a much loved time at Gloucester with French legend Phillipe Saint-Andre. His time in the West Country served up several life lessons. The high of marriage took place as well as the birth of his children. Ironically the man who let him go from Wasps took the decision to re-sign him at Gloucester which proved to the scrum-half that “it wasn’t me as a player but more me as a person”. Five years at Kingsholm came to an end in 2005 although leaving is something Gomarsall recalls as “a massive massive mistake – my only regret in rugby”.
A three-year contract just north with Worcester was cut short two years early despite an historic season by the club. Occupying a treatment bed at the time due to injury Gomarsall was speechless when he was told of his release. Although, in open minded fashion, he hopes his experience has prevented others feeling the isolation he dealt with.
“I didn’t think I’d managed it poorly because I was still trying to learn. It was a big surprise to be told you’re not value for money so out the door. There are many cases like this but I think the RPA learnt a lot from it and I hope it’s managed in a more professional manner nowadays.”
Without a club and with newly born children to care for Gomarsall recalls “unbelievable pressure” that was eventually relieved by a call from now Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards then of Harlequins.
“Deano gave me a chance. For him seeing quality players on a low he’s got a habit of bringing them back. He’s got a knack for that. They might be unknown but he spots something in them. His Newcastle team is full of individuals like that. So I was very grateful to him for that but hoping I did repay that faith. I ended up getting into the 2007 World Cup squad from it so what a turn around.”
That 2007 World Cup saw England relinquish their crown to South Africa on a controversial night in Paris. It almost bore birth to perhaps the greatest turnaround in rugby history after England had been humbled 36-0 in the group stage. With many of the 2003 squad still present Gomarsall labels preparation as the factor which separated two generations.
“We were potentially good enough with the same preparation we had in 2003 that’s for sure.”
A couple of years followed that World Cup and with Gomarsall into his 30s the temptation to fish around for a new club, potentially taking a step down to the Championship, was there but he concluded he was “ready for business”.
“The way I put it is I was bored of wearing a tracksuit, wanted to put on a suit and get stuck into a real job.”
Now director at N2S, a professional services company specialising in optimising supply chain economics for businesses in the finance, media, telecommunications and government sectors. Gomarsall has swapped the mud of the pitch for the relative glamour of an office in comparison.
Despite initial efforts to somewhat shun his rugby learnings in an effort to acclimatise to new surroundings Gomarsall admits to the transferability rugby brought him. Living under the life umbrella that is rugby the now businessman draws from several different cultures each with similar aspirations.
“This is business what relevance does sport have? So I was trying to find out what people’s cultures in business were before I imparted my knowledge and wisdom. I soon realised that sport does have such a powerful influence within teams and in business.
“You should put this together like a sports club. One very influential man and big rugby fan once told me. If you do business like you played rugby you’ll do alright. At the time I was think what does that mean? But it makes sense now. Culture is as integral to business as it is in sport.
“The only difference between sport and business is the speed. Sport is so quick, week in and week out whereas business has a larger cycle. The culture you have defines who you work with and who your clients are.”
Culture, as is often the way, filters from the top down. Gomarsall in his position of Director is near enough top of the tree, but one man supersedes him. His father Jack. Despite the stigmas and stereotypes that surround father-son working relationships and getting involved professionally with family Gomarsall speaks glowingly about the relationship with his father.
“99% of the time it’s amazing and I have an amazing mentor to learn off every day.”
Continuing to grow the business is certainly occupying Gomarsall’s future along with the female dominated household he finds himself in! Climate change is a current affair close to his heart and an area he hopes to get involved in when the time is right.
Short term finding a settled home is a priority. Settled probably not a word in the Gomarsall dictionary following his well travelled career but one he’ll have to learn. Currently home lies in a small Hampshire town but not for too much longer. Cliches suggest home is where the heart is, wherever that may be Gomarsall has his picturesque vision firmly in sight.
“I love the beach. It’ll be somewhere looking out to sea that’s for sure. That’s where we’ll eventually call home.”
After a career trying to avoid boredom the hope is a sunset into the ocean whets the appetite for a post rugby life that’s only just getting started.