19617 RGS ONA Issue 106.qxp_Layout 1 03/10/2019 17:55 Page 30
R U G BY ST I L L MEANS THE WORLD BY JEFFREY BALL (95-02) From a career ending injury, to switching rugby codes, to Head Coach of the Cramlington Rockets – it has been an incredible journey since leaving RGS.
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ike many Old Novos, Jeff Ball (95-02) left the school well and truly bitten by the rugby bug. “The late Neil Goldie (89-03) (former Head of Chemistry) lit the fire of interest in Newcastle Falcons with some free tickets,” says Ball, who has now been a season ticket holder for 18 years. “Having Jonny Wilkinson visit the school along with Inga Tuigamala is a stand out memory, meaning that like most teenagers, seeing him kick us to World Cup glory a year later really struck a chord”. Since then, his journey has seen him cross codes and, in his own way, help Newcastle reach the pinnacle of the game. It started close to home. With “enthusiasm outweighing skill”, Ball found himself running out for the Northern, the Gosforth-based club while studying Classics at Newcastle University for three seasons. “I can still remember the snap” says Ball, remembering the moment it all changed. “He came illegally at the side of a ruck, hit my knee and that was me done. It took a while to realise what had actually happened but the long and short of it was knee reconstruction surgery and the end to an admittedly barely burgeoning rugby career.” After a period “subconsciously sulking” away from the game, it was down to the fortunate throw away invitation from a touch rugby teammate that Ball found himself coaching at rugby league club, Cramlington Rockets.
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