Danny Care: ‘I’ve kept that letter from Stuart Lancaster which said I wasn’t good enough’
Danny Care reflects on his rugby career and being snubbed by Stuart Lancaster.
As he prepares to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Danny Care admits not a day goes by when he does not think about being a professional footballer.
The Harlequins scrum-half, 38, has recovered from a knee injury and should feature in Saturday’s derby clash against Saracens at the home of Spurs – billed as The Showdown 5 (3.05pm KO) and televised live on TNT Sports | Watch TNT Sports on discovery+.
Had things turned out a little differently, though, Care might have made the grade in football after spending a number of years on Sheffield Wednesday’s books as a youngster.
In the end, he got disillusioned and turned to rugby union where the rest, as they say, is history.
Football was my first love
Reflecting on a stellar career which harvested 101 England caps, Care told Planet Rugby: “I probably think about what could have been in football every day.
“Football was my first love, it really was, and I was desperate to make it professionally.
“When I was about 10, I chose football over rugby and played for my local club for a couple of years before getting scouted by Sheffield Wednesday.
“I then had three years at Wednesday, and loved it for the first couple of years.
“I then fell out of love with it in the last year because I wasn’t getting played as much as I would’ve liked, so I asked to leave and went back to my local club when I was about 15.
“I grew up in Leeds as a massive Leeds Rhinos fan and would go to watch them with my dad and my brother but never got the chance to play rugby league.
“It would have been cool, but my school played rugby union and my local club was West Park Bramhope, so it was union for me then.
“I never grew up watching rugby union at a high level, but after England won the World Cup in 2003 I was hooked.
“That then became the goal for my career and, although it didn’t happen, we gave it our best shot.”
🃏 Danny Care makes call on his future and the moment that provided the clarity
After leaving the youth ranks at Hillsborough, Care’s friends implored him to play rugby union for Otley.
“They were going on a lads and dads tour to Dublin,” remembered Care, an ardent Liverpool supporter, with a huge smile.
“I was like ‘I’m a footballer’ but I went to Dublin with my best mates from school and we all dyed our hair blonde!
“We played some rugby and had a couple of shandies with the mums and dads afterwards.
“I thought ‘this is for me’ and it was the best feeling of being part of a team that I’ve ever had.
“Football was way more individual – with parents trying to get their kids to the next level – whereas rugby was just about working in a team and having a laugh.
“There’s a space for everyone and I never looked back after that trip.”
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Snubbed by Stuart Lancaster
Stuart Lancaster refused to sign Care into Leeds’ Academy because he did not believe he would make the grade.
But Care soon got picked for England Under-16s and Leeds snapped him up.
“I’ve kept that letter from Stuart which said I wasn’t good enough,” revealed the Yorkshireman.
“My dad has it saved in the archives but I never looked back after being in the Leeds Academy with Stuart and moved to Quins.
“I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s mad to think I’ve been playing professional rugby for so long.
“When I started out as a young lad, it turns out you could get paid for doing it and I was like ‘oh right’.
“To then play for my country, travel the world, meet and get coached by so many amazing people has been unbelievable really.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind that I’ve loved being a part of and a rollercoaster of ups and downs.
“I wouldn’t change anything and I’m really proud of everything I’ve done but there are loads of things I wish I’d done better.
“I’m looking forward to getting some more amazing memories in the bank before I have to enter the real world.”
The Showdown with Sarries
Meanwhile, Saturday’s derby – billed as The Showdown – takes on huge importance with Quins and Sarries just outside the play-off places.
Last year, Saracens ran in eight tries for a club-record 52-7 victory against Harlequins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Care said: “Last year we really underperformed there and we want to change that.
“We know it’s not the be-all and end-all if we don’t get a result this weekend, but jeez it would help us out.
“The table’s so tight and if you win a couple you’re right in the mix whereas if you lose a couple it’s really tough.
“It’s their big game, they’re going to have all their England players back, and it’s going to be tough.
“We definitely need to show more than what we showed last year, that’s for sure.
“It’s like playing on a carpet, the changing rooms are massive, the amount of fans there will be amazing and the stadium itself – what a piece of architecture.
“It’s incredible and we’ll probably never play there again, unless my football career really kicks off post-rugby!
“I’ve been out with a knee injury for the past few weeks, but have been working hard to get back for this fixture. Fingers crossed I will play some part this weekend.”
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