Grand Slam Man by Dan Lydiate

Author:Dan Lydiate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2013-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

GRAND SLAM AFTERMATH

The day after we won the Grand Slam, I went into my local supermarket in Newport to pick up a few groceries and an old couple came up to me. They said well done for yesterday, and the old lady put her hand out to shake my hand. As I went to shake it, she turned mine over and kissed me on the hand. I was looking round and thinking, ‘I hope no one saw that!' I didn't know how to react to it. I didn't know whether to do it back. So I just said thank you, and walked off.

That was the moment I realised things might be a bit different from now on. We knew there had been a real buzz back home during the World Cup, especially with the Millennium Stadium opening up for everyone to watch the semi-final against France. But we hadn't experienced it ourselves because we were over in New Zealand. This time it was different, because we were back home.

People really got behind Wales during the Six Nations. I think there was a real feel-good factor within the country. People were going into work on that Monday morning after the Grand Slam with smiles on their faces and a spring in their step, just because we did it, and I think that's really great.

The Dragons gave me a week off playing, which was good because the championship had taken its toll on me. It had been so physical and I felt battered. So I was thankful for the break to let my body recover, but it was still a pretty hectic time off the field.

Because we had won the Slam, the whole of the Wales squad was invited to the Senedd – the National Assembly building – in Cardiff Bay for a civic reception. I had never been there before and didn't know what to expect. But it was brilliant. I think about 10,000 people turned up! It just shows how much people appreciated what we did. It was a great feeling.

You get to meet a lot of nice people in rugby, especially when you go out to different clubs and grounds. People are really friendly, and they all want to say well done.

A couple of days after the France game, Sara from the Dragons rang me up and said, ‘Congratulations, you've won the RBS Player of the Tournament.' She said, ‘I've got the award in a box here, so come down for a picture.' I agreed and asked who was giving it to me. She said, ‘I will if you want.' I said, ‘Brilliant!' So I received it from her.

I was really surprised to get the award and genuinely chuffed. It was a massive honour to win, especially given the quality of the other players up for the award. I was really grateful to everyone who voted for me. I don't usually pick up any Man of the Match awards, so to do it at international level and to get two of them in the Six Nations, and then the Player of the Tournament, meant a massive amount.

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