Interview with Craig Short of the Bristol Shoguns

Shorty!
By Duncan Wood
May 29 2002

The Bristol Shoguns held a media day ahead of the Zurich Playoff clash with Northampton. I caught up with Craig Short for a brief chat about the season so far and the big game.

Another busy season (23 starts and 5 replacements) - you must be shattered?

Well, yes and no. It's been a long season and we've played a lot of games but Saturday's a big match and you get your enthusiasm and adrenaline from that. We don't want our season to end just yet!

The back row is fiercely competitive. Do you think that your versatility helps?

It's competitive and there are a lot of good players all trying to get their place in the team. Back row is a physical position and the guys can pick up knocks so you have to take your chance when it's presented to you.

I've played about half my games at openside which would have surprised me if you'd told me at the start of the season. I thought Adam Vander would play almost every game but he's been out with a couple of things and I've had to slot in. It's good to be versatile but I think every player would like to specialise, to have their own position and make it their own. But, it's all down to the coaches and I'll do what they ask me to!

You've been around for a few seasons now. Do you think that this is the strongest Bristol squad you've been involved with?

I reckon so. When you look at the sheer level of talent we've got in the squad at the moment and I don't mean any disrespect to people who've been here in the past but we've got world class players in the team. The standard increases every year.

You were around at the time of the Wasps semi final 2 years ago - how does the importance of this game compare?

This is bigger. The Tetleys semi was big at the time but there's so much riding on this one. If we'd beaten Wasps, we'd have got to the Cup final which would have been great. But, if we beat Northampton then we're through to the Heineken Cup and we'll have a Twickenham game as a bonus.

Any hangover from that semi final defeat?

Not really. We're a completely different team. Bob's gone and Dean's in charge. There are a few boys left but it won't bother them. We got to the semi last time through some great individual performances. We're much more of a team unit now.

As a Bristol boy, what does it mean to be involved in a big game like this?

Everything. Since I've been at the club, even since I was a Colt, I've wanted to win something, a cup or a trophy. If we beat Northampton, then we'll have achieved something and no-one can take that away from us. We'll qualify for the Heineken Cup for the first time which will bring more money into the club. We'll get more exposure and the supporters will get to see us playing better teams.

Any Whitehall boys coming to cheer you on?

They always do! They're good lads and it means a lot to me.

Finally, when this (long) season comes to an end, what are you planning to do with your summer?

I've got to talk to Dean about that! I'd like to take a holiday but my girlfriend's a teacher and I have to fit in with her school holidays. We're back in preseason in the first week of July so it's a bit tight. It's a full time job playing rugby!