With a Scotland RL international on the horizon it felt like a good time to get to know more about Dale Ferguson, as we were doing an interview via Zoom I went with the pre-prepared questions option, I find that easier when we’re not in the same room. I also had a few questions from Scotland Facebook followers to put to Dale
Earliest Rugby Memory
Growing up in Pontefract and with a brother and Dad who played the game, rugby league felt quite inevitable. Yet it was football that captured Dale’s imagination at his secondary school, King’s High School. However it was clear that most of his friends were off at rugby training and he took the jump to Rugby League, a game he was obviously suited to. At 12 he made his debut for Featherstone Lions against Kippax Welfare, giving him that earliest memory. As with most teenagers there were lots of distractions at school, but his teachers looked out for him and her was often on the ‘team’, with Basketball and Cricket featuring too, but rugby was clearly Dale’s thing.
Name the one person who’s had the biggest influence on your career
Dale looked up to his Dad and he had a huge influence on him, he played semi=pro Rugby League at Keighley. In his early days at Wakefield Steve Snitch and Jamie Rooney were players who welcomed him in, taking on the big brother role. Throughout his career Dale had played alongside some of the best, with Gareth Ellis, Jason Solomona and Jason Demetriou uo there front and central when I put this question to him
Best Club Memory
This brought back a whole season memory for Dale, with the 2013 season at Huddersfield Giants, early season he’d gone to Hull KR on loan, he played 4 games and was recalled to take part in the rest of Huddersfield’s season. It was a landmark one for them as they finished at the top of the table, wining the League Leaders Shield/. They won 21 of their 27 games. The play off games and final are so often won by the teams with the most experience at that point of the season, Wigan won the Grand Final, but Huddersfield were at the top of the pile after 27 games.
Best International Memory – also asked by Connor Flanagan Edwards
I was lucky enough to attend the shirt presentation for the last World Cup and each player asked who they were representing as they received theirs. The passion for Scotland was clear for every player. Every time Dale has pulled on the Scotland shirt has been a special experience. We spoke about one of the biggest results for Scotland on a rainy Friday night in Workington, They became the first team outside of the Big 3 to take a point in a Four Nations game, with an 18-18 draw. With 3 tries apiece it was one of the most incredible sporting events I’ve attended live. Dale was playing with a fractured sternum, unbelievably!, the ball bounced off the chest guard he was wearing at one point!
Worst Rugby Memory
We talked around this one, with a good chat about how much of a community game Rugby League is and how players are a close unit and seem to know each other well. We spoke about the loss of Terry Newton and how far that reverberate across the game. Dale spoke about Adam Watene and his tragic death at just 31, and how the game has celebrated his life.
How have you coped with spells of injury?
2014 was a virtual wipeout for Dale, which was particularly hard after the high of Huddersfield’s 2013. He had a bulging disc, whi9ch took a while to diagnose. As a professional player training is part of the day no matter what, the group training is just smaller, and people come and go through the weeks. But the injury was eventually properly diagnosed and Dale made it through!
Which fellow British player do you most admire
Sam Burgess was an instant choice for Dale, they played together for Yorkshire as teenagers, then with England Schoolboys. Sam Burgess is a man whose excelled wherever he’s been, be that Superleague, the NRL and now as a Coach. I’m also going to take a view on his time in Union, he was scapegoated when England fell short in their him World Cup in 2015. England lost to Wales, they were in the lead when he was taken off – that says a lot to me!
Which International player do you most admire
2 Australians came to mind for Dale here, Shane Webcke who made 254 appearances for Brisbane Bronco and Gordon Tallis who played 54 times for St George Dragons and 160 times for Brisbane Broncos. It’s amazing to think Tallis only played for Australia 18 times, it goes to show the lack off opportunity at International level.
Future Plans – Having dipped a toe in the coaching water
I’m always very interested in what plans professional sports people put into place for their futures, sport can be a short lived career in some cases. Dale has played at a high level now for 15 years and dipped his toe in the coaching water at Dewsbury Rams. in 2019 Dale suffered a bad injury that affected his eyesight and gave him a bit of a wake up call, a father to 3 children he realised the future without rugby could be clioser than he thought. Dale’s Dad works in construction and that led Dale to taking various courses to gain the tickets needed to work in that industry, Steve McCormack, the former Scotland Head Coach in his new role at Rugby League Cares helped him get both those courses and the funding from the RFL. That’s really good to hear!
Greg Eden – What’s your favourite order from Viv and Roy’s Butties?
Dale would like to as Greg what he recommends!
Matt Richard – Why do you have the nickname – The Artist
It turned out this was an alias on Facebook, I’, not going to give away the name, but he’s a team mate of Dale’s and one known for his pranks! Matt “Richard’ is known as The Puppet Master, largely over messages he seemed to his fellow team mates.
Rick Morris – Will you be playing Masters for Scotland?
Dale’s getting a taste of Masters Rl this very weekend in a charity matc, so playing for a Scotland team is most definitely on!
It was a pleasure to chat to Dale, as with every Rugby League person I’ve interviewed he was great to talk to, the passion he has for the game was so clear to see.
365 Sporting Days 