It is not often that players of the calibre of Jack Lawrence hove into sight, but St Joseph’s College has an uncanny knack of spotting them. Jack recently became the 18th player from the school to sign a professional contact over the past decade. And the coaches agree, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer young man.
Jack’s exceptional skill and dedication, honed during two years at St Jo’s, are laid bare in a BBC documentary, Saints Ascending, a heart-warming celebration of a pinnacle reached by Jack himself, his parents, Mark and Karen, and all playing a part in the College’s Performance Rugby programme.
Director of Rugby, Mr Rowland Winter, is proud of Jack’s achievement, but also the professional environment the College offers, lifting players several levels in terms of understanding of the professional game, analysis, diet and mindset.
No problem there for Jack, whose dedication simply cannot be questioned.
‘As a player and personally, he has embraced everything we have to offer and taken every single opportunity that has come his way. His attitude hasn’t wavered, he has without fail turned up for the early morning gym sessions, the one-on-one training… He has chased everything as hard as he can,’ said Mr Winter.
A handy footballer in boyhood, Jack came to rugby in his early teens, revelling in the physicality of the game at Shelford RFC, Cambridge. And it was from his home near Cambridge that he became a boarder at St Joseph’s College, using the launchpad of a scholarship to turbocharge his journey towards the professional game.
His parents were sorry to see their 6’6” son striking out on his own, but delighted in his successes, remaining his greatest fans and turning up to support at every game without fail.
Jack repaid St Jo’s by digging into his Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development as well as excelling on the rugby pitch. He scored Try of the Tournament at the 38th annual National Schools Rugby Tournament, was called up for the England U18 training camp and captained the victorious Northampton Saints Academy squad.
Jack’s success is celebrated by the whole St Joseph’s College community and justifies Mr Winter’s pride in the school’s rugby programme as second to none. The school may be small in terms of numbers, but the quality of players produced is undeniably impressive.
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