For this week's "Getting to Know" I was lucky enough to speak to Castleford Forward, Andy Lynch. After a great season so far for the Tigers, plus lots of topics I could speak to Lynch about, it was a great interview to have!
Here's what we talked about-
Talk to me about rugby while growing up. Who did you support as a kid and how did you get into rugby? Did anyone inspire you to play Rugby?
I started playing rugby at the age of 8 for Kippax welfare my coach at the time was Alan Durrant. Alan was a big Cas fan and still is I still see him at games. Alan used to take about six of us to the Cas games all squashed up in his car. It was great fun. I must admit I spent a few seasons watching Leeds too.
You started your career with Castleford Tigers. How did you get picked up by the Tigers? Do you remember what it felt like to put on your first jersey on your debut and play in front of 1000's of people?
In the under 15s at Kippax the great Kev Beardsmore was our coach at the time and spoke to Cas, and Paul Orr came up to watch and it went from there. It was a great feeling putting the jersey on for the first time. I remember it well: 1999 against Hull in the Challenge Cup and we won. I remember I was very nervous but I knew with the players around me like Danny Orr, Dale Fritz , Mick Eager, Nathen Sykes, it was made easier.
You then joined the Bradford Bulls, where you made over 200 appearances for them. How was it playing for the Bulls?
Bulls was great at the time! It was one of the biggest in Super League. It was great to play with all them players at the time, big Les Shony big Joe Stu Fielden and JP, who were at the time probably the best props in the world. The coaching staff at the Bulls were great and really helped my game at the time.
Then you went on to Hull FC, was it hard leaving the Bulls after such a long time with them?
Yes it was hard after being there for so long but the Bulls were struggling for money and they got a transfer fee for me and I ended up at hull for 2 years. I still have some great friends there and I'm sure Franny and Lee will get them winning some games.
Now, after a short time with Hull FC, you're back with the Tigers where you began. How did it feel to go back to your first team? How did the fans, staff and players help you settle back in?
It feels awesome to be fair it's like I have never been away. Everybody was great from the first day I came back. You can't afford these days to go to a team and find your feet you have to hit the ground running. Cas is a very good place at the moment right from the top with board all the way down to the players and volunteers everybody does their jobs with pride and passion. It's a real close nit group who are willing to put their bodies on the line for their mates at the side of them.
You've also represented England and Great Britain! That must be a pretty special feeling to represent your country, right?
Yes it's a great feeling I think every players goal is to play the there country. It's been great to play against Australia, New Zealand, France, Tonga, Fiji and Russia. You always want to test yourself against the best.
Onto the season. I've been talking with the some other Castlefords lads (who I'm also grateful that they took some time out to talk to me) who have all agreed it's been a great start of the season. What's it like inside the Tigers camp? Everyone must be pretty pumped and ready for each and every game, especially after the Easter wins?
We are just worrying about one game at a time we can't look too far ahead. Our start has been good because Ben Cooper has gotten every one of us in great shape and there are lads still doing extras on a morning to keep topped up. The physios Adam, Emily and Ben are working over time to get lads right and on the field. Then Powelly, Danny and Shez games' that we follow have been great. Between the 3 of them they have plenty of years of knowledge. Two wins from 2 over Easter is massive for us I don't think Cas have done that for a few years now. It's great too as we have competition for places so it always bring the best out of us all
The fans get to see Castleford's awesome performances week-in-week-out, but what goes on behind closed doors to get everyone prepared for games? Is training tougher than ever in order to get the best of your abilities?
Training pre-season was really tough thanks to our conditioner Ben Cooper. I think the lads are really seeing the benefit of it. A lot of hours spent on the training field working on structures, combinations and skills. We've been training with a high intensity and I think that's because we have competition for places and everyone's wanting to impress.
What's it like having 1000's of fans supporting you at every game? If you could say anything to the fans, what would it be?
Your support is fantastic and it really does help when things are tough on the field and you here all the fans cheering singing. The singing at the end of games, wow, never seen anything like it. Brilliant.
How far do you think Castleford can go this year?
We want to take one game at a time. We can't afford to look too far ahead. We are quite happy with how things are going but we know there is a hell of a lot of improvement in us
It's your testimonial this year and next year, would you like to talk about that a little? How does it feel having a testimonial? It must be pretty amazing!
It's a great feeling to be granted a testimonial by the RFL. It starts on the 30th of May with lots of events going on throughout the year. For more info please check www.andylynchtestimonial.co.uk for all events. I am looking forward to the hard work ahead!
What's in store for the future, Lynch? Is there a few more seasons left with the Castleford Tigers, yet?
I've still got the rest of this year and next year left and after that who knows my body feels great at the moment. at the end of the day age is only a number
Where is the best stadium you've played at?
Wembley.
What do you enjoy most about playing at the Castleford Tigers?
Great fans, great people and a real close nit group!
Do you remember signing your first autograph for a fan? Bet that must have been a funny feeling the first couple of times?
Yes. I thought 'why are they asking me', and I still do sometimes!
When not training or playing rugby, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I play a lot of squash at Ponte squash club. I coach a tots team, 3-5 year olds, which my youngest comes to then I help out with the under 7s which my eldest plays for. I try to get to see Kye (the middle) play too as he's in the other under 7s. I also run a boot camp up at Kippax welfare 3 times a week!
Who's the toughest in the Cas team? (I'm going to guess Holmes, as he always gives 110% because that's the type of bloke he is haha)
I like that answer. I think Oggy is up there as he always give 110% because that's the kind of guy he is!
Who looks at themselves in the mirror for way too long (if anyone)?
Oggy Holmes! We played at Bradford and I lost count of how many times he walked past and kept looking in mirror, all the lads were having a little giggle.
Some fans' questions from Twitter and Facebook!
David Gray asked- what is the best derby match you have played in?
They've all been great. Years ago was a Cas vs Leeds and I'm hoping for a atmosphere like it next Thursday. The hull derby was pretty special to especially at the KC Stadium,
Kieron Shepherd on Twitter asked- Is coaching kids more satisfying than playing knowing you are shaping numerous kids futures with your experience?
Yes. I love coaching kids I just love to see them out side running about with a ball, running through shields and jumping on to tackle bags. I just try to make it as fun as possible.
Sara on Twitter asked- What would you like to do when you finish playing? Would you like to do coaching?
I'd never want to be a head coach, maybe an assistant one. But at some point when I have finished, we are moving to Australia!
David Lyon and Anykingofweather asked the same kind of questions- Who is the best player you have played with and against?/Who's the best forward you have played against? Who's the best you've played with?
I've got to say JP. When we was at the Bulls, he was a true leader and always there for the hard stuff too. Now he's at Leeds, I enjoy playing against him as you always want to test yourself against the best!
Tom Little asked- You are a leader on the pitch, are you likely to go into coaching and leading off the pitch when your playing days are over?
I'd like to be assistant maybe. I just want to go out week in week out and play the best I can I lead from the front.
Dave Staples asked- If you weren't a rugby player, what sport would you play?
Squash! I love playing squash.
That's it for the questions. Thanks again to Andy Lynch for doing this in his spare time, especially with such a busy year ahead of him. Hope you've enjoyed getting to know Lynch as much as I did.
Thanks for reading!
Here's what we talked about-
Talk to me about rugby while growing up. Who did you support as a kid and how did you get into rugby? Did anyone inspire you to play Rugby?
I started playing rugby at the age of 8 for Kippax welfare my coach at the time was Alan Durrant. Alan was a big Cas fan and still is I still see him at games. Alan used to take about six of us to the Cas games all squashed up in his car. It was great fun. I must admit I spent a few seasons watching Leeds too.
You started your career with Castleford Tigers. How did you get picked up by the Tigers? Do you remember what it felt like to put on your first jersey on your debut and play in front of 1000's of people?
In the under 15s at Kippax the great Kev Beardsmore was our coach at the time and spoke to Cas, and Paul Orr came up to watch and it went from there. It was a great feeling putting the jersey on for the first time. I remember it well: 1999 against Hull in the Challenge Cup and we won. I remember I was very nervous but I knew with the players around me like Danny Orr, Dale Fritz , Mick Eager, Nathen Sykes, it was made easier.
You then joined the Bradford Bulls, where you made over 200 appearances for them. How was it playing for the Bulls?
Bulls was great at the time! It was one of the biggest in Super League. It was great to play with all them players at the time, big Les Shony big Joe Stu Fielden and JP, who were at the time probably the best props in the world. The coaching staff at the Bulls were great and really helped my game at the time.
Then you went on to Hull FC, was it hard leaving the Bulls after such a long time with them?
Yes it was hard after being there for so long but the Bulls were struggling for money and they got a transfer fee for me and I ended up at hull for 2 years. I still have some great friends there and I'm sure Franny and Lee will get them winning some games.
Now, after a short time with Hull FC, you're back with the Tigers where you began. How did it feel to go back to your first team? How did the fans, staff and players help you settle back in?
It feels awesome to be fair it's like I have never been away. Everybody was great from the first day I came back. You can't afford these days to go to a team and find your feet you have to hit the ground running. Cas is a very good place at the moment right from the top with board all the way down to the players and volunteers everybody does their jobs with pride and passion. It's a real close nit group who are willing to put their bodies on the line for their mates at the side of them.
You've also represented England and Great Britain! That must be a pretty special feeling to represent your country, right?
Yes it's a great feeling I think every players goal is to play the there country. It's been great to play against Australia, New Zealand, France, Tonga, Fiji and Russia. You always want to test yourself against the best.
Onto the season. I've been talking with the some other Castlefords lads (who I'm also grateful that they took some time out to talk to me) who have all agreed it's been a great start of the season. What's it like inside the Tigers camp? Everyone must be pretty pumped and ready for each and every game, especially after the Easter wins?
We are just worrying about one game at a time we can't look too far ahead. Our start has been good because Ben Cooper has gotten every one of us in great shape and there are lads still doing extras on a morning to keep topped up. The physios Adam, Emily and Ben are working over time to get lads right and on the field. Then Powelly, Danny and Shez games' that we follow have been great. Between the 3 of them they have plenty of years of knowledge. Two wins from 2 over Easter is massive for us I don't think Cas have done that for a few years now. It's great too as we have competition for places so it always bring the best out of us all
The fans get to see Castleford's awesome performances week-in-week-out, but what goes on behind closed doors to get everyone prepared for games? Is training tougher than ever in order to get the best of your abilities?
Training pre-season was really tough thanks to our conditioner Ben Cooper. I think the lads are really seeing the benefit of it. A lot of hours spent on the training field working on structures, combinations and skills. We've been training with a high intensity and I think that's because we have competition for places and everyone's wanting to impress.
What's it like having 1000's of fans supporting you at every game? If you could say anything to the fans, what would it be?
Your support is fantastic and it really does help when things are tough on the field and you here all the fans cheering singing. The singing at the end of games, wow, never seen anything like it. Brilliant.
How far do you think Castleford can go this year?
We want to take one game at a time. We can't afford to look too far ahead. We are quite happy with how things are going but we know there is a hell of a lot of improvement in us
It's your testimonial this year and next year, would you like to talk about that a little? How does it feel having a testimonial? It must be pretty amazing!
It's a great feeling to be granted a testimonial by the RFL. It starts on the 30th of May with lots of events going on throughout the year. For more info please check www.andylynchtestimonial.co.uk for all events. I am looking forward to the hard work ahead!
What's in store for the future, Lynch? Is there a few more seasons left with the Castleford Tigers, yet?
I've still got the rest of this year and next year left and after that who knows my body feels great at the moment. at the end of the day age is only a number
Where is the best stadium you've played at?
Wembley.
What do you enjoy most about playing at the Castleford Tigers?
Great fans, great people and a real close nit group!
Do you remember signing your first autograph for a fan? Bet that must have been a funny feeling the first couple of times?
Yes. I thought 'why are they asking me', and I still do sometimes!
When not training or playing rugby, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I play a lot of squash at Ponte squash club. I coach a tots team, 3-5 year olds, which my youngest comes to then I help out with the under 7s which my eldest plays for. I try to get to see Kye (the middle) play too as he's in the other under 7s. I also run a boot camp up at Kippax welfare 3 times a week!
Who's the toughest in the Cas team? (I'm going to guess Holmes, as he always gives 110% because that's the type of bloke he is haha)
I like that answer. I think Oggy is up there as he always give 110% because that's the kind of guy he is!
Who looks at themselves in the mirror for way too long (if anyone)?
Oggy Holmes! We played at Bradford and I lost count of how many times he walked past and kept looking in mirror, all the lads were having a little giggle.
Some fans' questions from Twitter and Facebook!
David Gray asked- what is the best derby match you have played in?
They've all been great. Years ago was a Cas vs Leeds and I'm hoping for a atmosphere like it next Thursday. The hull derby was pretty special to especially at the KC Stadium,
Kieron Shepherd on Twitter asked- Is coaching kids more satisfying than playing knowing you are shaping numerous kids futures with your experience?
Yes. I love coaching kids I just love to see them out side running about with a ball, running through shields and jumping on to tackle bags. I just try to make it as fun as possible.
Sara on Twitter asked- What would you like to do when you finish playing? Would you like to do coaching?
I'd never want to be a head coach, maybe an assistant one. But at some point when I have finished, we are moving to Australia!
David Lyon and Anykingofweather asked the same kind of questions- Who is the best player you have played with and against?/Who's the best forward you have played against? Who's the best you've played with?
I've got to say JP. When we was at the Bulls, he was a true leader and always there for the hard stuff too. Now he's at Leeds, I enjoy playing against him as you always want to test yourself against the best!
Tom Little asked- You are a leader on the pitch, are you likely to go into coaching and leading off the pitch when your playing days are over?
I'd like to be assistant maybe. I just want to go out week in week out and play the best I can I lead from the front.
Dave Staples asked- If you weren't a rugby player, what sport would you play?
Squash! I love playing squash.
That's it for the questions. Thanks again to Andy Lynch for doing this in his spare time, especially with such a busy year ahead of him. Hope you've enjoyed getting to know Lynch as much as I did.
Thanks for reading!