COLLEGE student James Freeman (pictured) today paid tribute to the influence Loughborough has played in his rugby revival as he looks ahead to a ‘huge honour’ next week.
The 22-year-old flanker and skipper of the talented Loughborough Students RFC side has been picked to represent the mighty Barbarians in their annual Remembrance Day fixture against the Combined Services on Tuesday (November 12).
It’s a far cry from the anguish Freeman suffered when he had eight months out of action after tearing ligaments in his knee and cartilage, a blow that effectively ended his professional career with Worcester Warriors.
“It was a turning point for me when I had to rethink where I was going,” he said. “I chose Loughborough because it gives me the opportunity to both play sport at a high level and get a great education. It was a bit tough going back to my studies at first, but I’m now in my second year at College and enjoying it. Getting a degree from a place like this gives me something important to fall back on whatever happens in my rugby career.”
Freeman, who explained that he discovered his Barbars selection ‘totally out of the blue’, is also delighted he is being joined by fellow College student and Students RFC player Alex Davis for the big game. “I was just going through my e-mails after a Students game and it took me completely aback. It’s a huge honour to represent the Barbarians and something I’d never thought about. Alex heard about his selection a couple of days later and it will be great to have a Loughborough and College colleague in the same line up. It’s a deserved reward for him because he is a really good winger, very light on his feet. Give him a few feet of space and not many people can catch him.”
The College duo will be alongside former Bath and England Prop Duncan Bell who played in the Barbarians 40-7 victory over Loughborough in 2012, and ex Wigan Warriors, Sale Sharks and London Wasps centre Chris Mayor. The Combined Services XV teams are drawn from the three armed services: Royal Navy, Army and RAF. The match will be played at Brickfields, the home of Plymouth Albion and will kick off at 7:30pm.