JODY SHAW is definitely in a good place at the moment!
Indeed, the first team coach of Yorkshire II table-topping YMCA is just about as happy as he has ever been during his rugby career – in either code.
An Area Sales Manager for Belgium carpet manufacturers Associated Weavers, Bradford-born Shaw began his playing days at Cleckheaton Rugby Union club, starting as a junior and moving up to the Colts, with whom he helped win their League in 1997.
After that the side began to break up with many of them going away to University, including Shaw, but he stayed local at Bradford Uni and continued to play open-age rugby at ‘Cleck’, eventually getting into the first team.
But then came a change of direction, and in 2001 he swapped codes after getting the chance to play for National Conference rugby league club Bradford Dudley Hill, where he played either scrum half or at hooker.
But after a short spell there came another move to Leeds-based club Stanningley.
“I had a mate who was an ex-Bradford Bulls player who went on to play at Stanningley, and it was he who got me to move there,” explained Shaw, who admitted that was probably the pinnacle of his rugby playing career.
“I played solely at hooker for Stanningley, and enjoyed four or five great years there, and played some of my best rugby, while I also got the chance to fulfil an ambition and play in the Challenge Cup.
“It did involve a lot of travelling up and down the country, but it was a back injury which eventually led to surgery that forced me to retire as a player. I did contemplate a comeback when I was fit again, but I wasn’t going to cripple myself, and although I was still only about 26, I was quite happy with what I’d achieved as a player.”
After that Shaw took a year out from the game completely, but then heard that Fartown-based St Joseph’s were looking for a new head coach, and decided he fancied a go and put an application forward.
“I didn’t really think I’d get it because I’d no qualifications at all, but amazingly, they gave me the job, and that’s how I got into coaching,” he said.
“When I arrived, Joe’s had finished at the bottom of Division I in the Pennine League and had just 19 men in total at the club.
“So we did a lot of re-structuring and recruiting and, before long, we had 30-odd players, a first and second team as well as an Academy side and in my first season there in 2006, we finished mid-table and won the Holliday Cup.
“Then in my second season we gained promotion to the Premier League, which is probably the biggest highlight of my coaching career, especially as we got promoted after a Wednesday night game when we came back from 22-0 down at half-time to beat Birkenshaw.”
The following season Shaw was on the move again, and it was time to swap codes once more as he joined Damon Scholes (now YMCA’s director of rugby) at Halifax Vandals.
“Being born in Bradford I was always a big Bulls fan and spent a lot of time watching rugby league, but at Vandals I developed a real love of coaching rugby union and between us we managed to help them win promotion.
“Damon then moved on, and I had about half a season out of the game, but suddenly Scholesy contacted me again and asked me if I was interested in helping him at the YMCA. We had worked well together before, so we sat down, discussed everything and I started last season and we finished it in mid-table.
“We now have a cracking bunch of guys who are also very talented and if we should go on to win promotion this year – which of course is our ultimate aim – then I would definitely consider that as another highlight to my coaching career.
“I know we are top of the League at the moment (along with Pocklington they have opened up a bit of a cushion over the chasing pack), but I’m taking nothing for granted until it’s mathematically impossible to be caught.
“We want the lads to enjoy their rugby and their training, but the coaching team under Damon (Scholes), myself and Andy Shaw (no relation), who is responsible for coaching the forwards and scrummaging in particular, are very strict when it comes to preparation on match days.
“I was a very sore loser as a player, and I’m just the same as a coach.”
Based in Idle in Bradford, and married to Rachael and with a young daughter Niamh, Jody is happy with life, both on and off the field – and he’ll be even happier if he can help YMCA get into Yorkshire I next season.
