RUGBY: No ordinary Joe (From Swindon Advertiser)

RUGBY: No ordinary Joe

11:48am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Rugby By Andrew Warren

HE HAS long been touted as one of rugby’s stars of the future, but Swindon-born Joe Carlisle is finally beginning to fulfil his potential and make his mark on the Aviva Premiership.

The Worcester Warriors fly-half burst onto the scene in 2007, with former teammate and Australian legend Chris Latham describing him as one of the most naturally talented players he has ever seen.

The 24-year-old is inventive, expansive and has a reputation for the spectacular, which has seen him weave his magic on some of the biggest names in the game, thread passes through the eye of a needle, and dance through gaps which no other player could even spot.

His desire to entertain not only the paying public, but arguably himself too, has not always fared him well though, and a series of high-profile errors threatened to derail his development and saw him criticised by his own fans.

But after forcing his way past former England number 10 Andy Goode to establish himself as a fixture in Warriors’ starting XV, Carlisle’s calm and assured performances have helped all-but secure the perennial strugglers’ place in next season’s Premiership with close to half the season still to play.

Carlisle’s route to a starting spot has been blocked by a number of experienced campaigners over the years, including Shane Drahm, Willie Walker and current rival Goode, but the playmaker is determined to take his chance now it has arrived.

“You can’t feel secure, especially when you have players like Andy Goode in our squad. I need to make sure I am at the top of my game to be able to keep the shirt because I don’t want to go back to the bench,” he said.

“I like to keep it in hand and run the ball from anywhere to create chances and space for other people, but as a 10 in the Premiership you have to control the game, kick your points, and make your tackles so there is a lot to do.

“I have learnt a lot off of the guys I have been behind, but all the time I was trying to push myself into the first team. At Worcester we have never been in the strongest position in terms of league position, so it is not the ideal environment to throw a young player into.

“With us being at the bottom and struggling for every point I think a lot of the coaches in the past have relied on the experienced guys. Sometimes you have to play a safe game, but Richard Hill (current head coach) has given me a few chances to show what I can do and I need to keep on showing my best.”

Carlisle was born in Swindon but spent his youth growing up in Marlborough before playing his junior rugby at Newbury. Along the way, though, he was a keen football player with Swindon Town’s Centre of Excellence, and even had trials with Premiership Chelsea.

“The rugby scene was quite quiet in Wiltshire, so I went to Newbury and their junior section is quite good so there was a game every weekend. I do sometimes miss playing with my friends in such a relaxed way, but I can not complain about doing it for a living,” he said.

“I always watched my dad play at Newbury and always had a ball in my hands, so for as long as I remember I wanted to do it. I played a lot of football but I always preferred my rugby so it was a no contest for me.”

After finishing at St John’s School in Marlborough, Carlisle moved to the prestigious Hartpury College in Gloucestershire which has produced Gloucester stars Henry Trinder and Charlie Sharples, current Warriors team mate Ed Shervington, and Ulster prop Callum Black.

It was here Carlisle was picked up by Warriors, who, with the backing of owner Cecil Duckworth’s millions, are looking to become a powerhouse on the European stage.

Their modern Sixways home is the envy of clubs across the continent with superb indoor and outdoor training facilities, and a near 13,000 capacity stadium which has planning permission to be increased up to 20,000.

Work has recently begun on a new health and fitness club behind the East Stand, and the club’s conference and business facilities have established it as one of the most impressive destinations in the West Midlands.

“The vision of the club and where they want to be is quite brilliant for a young guy coming through,” Carlisle said.

“Cecil has done a huge amount over the years, so as a group of players we are extremely lucky and it is a great club to be a part of. I have another year on my contract and I am enjoying it and I would like to think I will be around here for a while yet.

“Waking up and playing rugby with my mates every day is great and I feel very lucky to be able to do this for a living.”

Joe is not the only Carlisle looking to make his name at Sixways, with younger brother Tom, also born in Swindon, currently working his way through the academy.

“It is nice to be around with my brother and I see him a lot both at home and at the club,” Joe said. “He has come up to do a few training sessions with the first team, so we always try to have a laugh and get the better of each other.

“He is very skilful and has a bright future, but hopefully not too bright yet otherwise he will knock me out of my position.”