Meet A Hunter - Rob Merrett - Utility Forward

INTRODUCTION

Rob Merrett, lovingly referred to by members as “Daddy” is one of the longest serving members of the Leeds Hunters RUFC. He is also one of our original straight allies. Rob has been involved with the Leeds Hunters since February 2017. He has a loving wife and a 15 year old daughter with whom he has been shielding at home since the start of the COVID10 Pandemic. Rob works for British Gas and previous to that served in the Royal Navy for over a decade on a number of ships including HMS Invincible before spending the majority of his career on Destroyers.

SO ROB How did you get involved with the leeds hunters rufc?

“I joined the Leeds Hunters initially for the fitness. I’d talked to Rob Wilson and Adam Holland, who was the Captain at the time and told them I wanted a gateway back into Rugby. It was a Facebook pop-up that initially attracted me to the club stating it supported all levels of players, including those looking to boost their fitness and skill. I hadn’t played for a few years and the thought of approaching other more established clubs made me concerned about fitness level. The Facebook pop us was purely by chance but it was definitely one of the best things to ever happen to me!”

How did you find it?

“I’d been talking to Rob WIlson for a month, but I still had a little anxiety before hand about being the only straight person. I actually wasn’t the first straight ally though, that was Irish Dave. I remember pulling up to Roundhay Park and much like everyone I had that feeling of do I get out or do I drive home? Being a prop I went forward, got out the car and went over, I recognised Adam from Facebook and went over. Adam’s greeting of ‘Haiiyaii’ jus took all my axinites away. There were about 10-15 Hunters at that time, we had a bag of bibs, some cones and five balls. We did some basic drills and built up from there. Obviously I stuck around and the club has rapidly grown since those days. It was really interesting perspective to be a minority for once, considering I was a straight, cis-gendered white male. However, the friendships and relationships I have built from Hunters, especially how I was welcomed with open arms has really helped me on my journey to being a better ally. I’ve been playing since 1980 and I’ve never felt more at home than with the Leeds Hunters!”

HAVE YOU HAD ANY PREVIOUS RUGBY EXPERIENCE?

“I came from a Rugby League family but my school in Roundhay played Rugby Union. I played throughout school and then played in the Royal Navy. The Naval and wider inter-service Rugby structure wasn’t dissimilar to the IGR in many ways. We’d play against other ships or naval bases and then go up to other services. I played for 10 years for various ships and inter-service against the RAF, Army and the Marines. I remember playing for HMS Invincible when we won the Inter-ship Cup. Playing Rugby in the Navy built on the existing comradery we had within the service, but this is something you carry forward. Wherever you go its just Rugby, regardless of sexuality, gender, or age,”

What has been the highlight of your time in the club?

“God! I don’t know to be honest. Every training session is a love hate relationship because of the fitness. I’ve really enjoyed watching the club grow in general. Especially seeing how people have grown in the club. I’ve seen people move from being shy and timid with weekend jobs in pizza places to becoming teachers and confident young professionals. Seeing people develop like that does make me feel like the Daddy I’m often called in banter. One of the greatest highlights has to be my first Leeds Pride, which is my chosen cover photo. Unbeknownst to me the committee had decided to ask my daughter and my niece to carry the Leeds Hunters flag at Leeds Pride. I’d never been to pride before and it became a family event. Seeing members of my family holding that banner on photos online and in the press made me so proud. As a father it was an amazing thing to see even with our ugly mugs in the background!”

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST MATCH?

“It was Hunters vs Leeds Doctors and Dentists, we had borrowed kit and both myself Tom Robertson who was my tighthead had to play 80 minutes. Have you ever seen a prop play 80 minutes? I was shattered afterwards! We used to have to borrow kit a lot back in the old days, and subs had to trade shirts, that got a bit sweaty that was character building haha. At the time we didn’t think twice about it, to be honest its only 4 years ago!”

How did the beer taste afterwards?

“Absolutely amazing! After game socialising has always been amazing, as the Australians would say the amber nectar was flowing!”

How did it feel when you first pulled on a hunters shirt for a match?

“I was there for the first time anyone put on a Hunters Shirt. It was our first ever kit, I was playing loose head prop at the time. I walked into the changing room and the shirts were hanging up and it felt like Twcikers! The Pride I felt when I pulled it on was amazing, we were playing at Weetwood and they even flew the Pride Flag as we were playing another IGR Team. The only issue looking back is the Black’s Logo as a big yellow circle doesn’t suit a Prop that well.”

What WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE THINKING OF JOINING THE CLUB?

“Its not all just boys drinking and doing naked calendars. Its like a family, the inclusivity extends beyond the club into my own family. If you turn up to a Hunters match or a social the inclusivity and warmth the club prides itself on is always extended. If you go to a game Hunters and their supporters seem to talk more than at other clubs. We’ve plenty of characters who make the effort to reach out. I think other the members of the club would back me up on that, there are always people’s mum, dad’s, partners and siblings out and about at the games, at least they were before lockdown!”

What DO YOU THINK RUGBY AS A GAME HAS TAUGHT YOU ABOUT LIFE?

"I’m a prop so always keep moving forward and when you can’t, your friends will pick you up. I see a crossover between what I experienced in the services and what I have experienced in the IGR. When you play Rugby you’re all together, no matter who you are or where your from. You can put any quote to Rugby form the bible or other texts and it can be made to fit, as the game teaches you so much about life. When I was growing up Leeds City Council had this slogan in the pools and community centres and it said in big letters ‘Sport for All’. Rugby really is sport for all, some people still don’t understand that. Whether its Union or League it doesn’t matter, its more than just the Six Nations or the Super League! It teaches you to be strong and make decisions, when someone bigger and stronger has the ball and you make that tackle it takes bravery. Even when you get it wrong, the first thing your team mates will do is pick you up, pat you on the back and make sure you’re ok. You walk onto that pitch as a team and you walk off as a team. Rugby is a mindset, we win, we have fun and we make you part family.