Mason breaks leg before calling time on fine career

Apr 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

FORMER Irish International Simon Mason is again on the move having announced his retirement from National 3 North rugby with Caldy.

Though his departure was amicable, his final game for the club didn’t quite work out the way he wanted having broken his leg in two places after turning out for the Caldy Lions – the club’s second string.

“It wasn’t quite the way I had planned to finish at Caldy,” Simon Mason explained. “But I have left on very good terms with everyone, I hope, and I am grateful for my two years of enjoyment there helping them to get promotion to the national leagues and consolidate their place in National 3 North.

“I have certainly enjoyed working with the likes of Tony Atherton and many others.”

At 34 , now married with two children and increasing commitments at his old school St Anselm’s College as a teacher, it is no surprise to his recent announcement that he was returning to his old “alma mater” Anselmians as their new director of rugby.

It’s a real coup for the struggling South Lancs/Cheshire One outfit who still don’t know their fate for next season with fellow strugglers Ruskin Park and Aspull still one game remaining.

What is certain is that Simon Mason’s decision to return to his roots is quite exceptional in this day and age where professionalism and money seems to have taken over old- fashioned club loyalties.

With three Irish caps to his name – he made his debut in Dublin against Wales in March 1996 and kicked 42 points in 3 Tests – he will definitely add much needed fibre and experience to his old club at Malone Field, where he began in 1992.

From there he moved on to LSH and then Orrell where his exposure on TV when Orrell were flying high allowed the Irish selectors to recognise his talents, especially his kicking.

From Edge Hall Road as the professional era gained momentum he moved on to Richmond and then Ulster where he won a coveted Heineken European Cup winners medal.in 1999. A period in Paris with Stade Francaise and then Benetton in Italy followed before taking up a troublesome post as player-coach with Orrell.

The latest move is certainly fascinating. Mason is adamant that it is the way forward for him at this stage of his life.

“I am really looking forward to the new challenge,” he added. “Anselmians have struggled somewhat over the last couple of seasons but there is a desire for the club to establish itself as one of the best junior clubs in the area.

“My aim is to re-establish the links with the school and this combined with attracting good young players who want to get fit and develop will enable the club to grow and achieve the objective of playing in N2W.

“There are exciting plans to redevelop the clubhouse which has been given the green-light by the planners. It will all link into the club’s philosophy to be a community based club offering a good time to players and spectators alike.”