When you Google "Hooker" it returns:
Which doesn't really go anyway to help this blog, so I decided to put in a more detailed search "Hooker Rugby". This didn't really help either so I decided to read a book.
A Hooker - The player who lines up between the props, coordinates the engagement of the pack and is in theory responsible for winning the ball at the scrum by "Hooking" Though in reality this happens very little in the modern game, the position is still seen as a key decision maker, not only do they control the 100's of kilo's behind them in a scum they are responsible for the restart - Line Out. I didn't bother Googling this term as I figured lots of finishing websites would result, which would play havoc with my internet viewing at a later date seeing fishing adverts all over the cookie filled internet sites I tend to frequent. Suffice to say the line out is key, as whenever the ball is kicked or carried off the pitch it is the chosen method of restart.
So, our hooker is a key part of the team at set piece and in loose play. Over the years we have had some good hookers to chose from but for this article I will concentrate on the current and future wearers of the #2 shirt: Ed Shervington and Ollie Hayes. If you would like to read about Warriors new boy Gus Creevy please take a look HERE
Aleki Lutui is one of the highest capped Worcester Warriors players in the history of the club. Born in Tofoa the 34 year old has played 186 games W/D/L 88/10/88. He has not signed a new Warriors contract for 2013/14 having signed a 2 year deal with Edinburgh.
That leaves the club with Ed Shervington and Ollie Hayes, both having signed contract extension in 2013. It is expected that Gus Creevy will arrive at the club around the end of November following his International commitments. So we have an easy choice at #2 and #16
Ollie Hayes
Born in Bath in 1990 now standing at 1,83m and weighing in at 105Kg Ollie was signed by Richard Hill from his former club Bristol and has been the "hot prospect" for the last couple of seasons.
Picture: Ollie putting in a tackle on Aleki in his days as a Bristol player.
During the Warriors Championship season Ollie was a regular starter for Bristol and played against us a couple of times. The later coming in the 81 - 13 Sixways thrashing of Bristol. Ollie's first official run out for Worcester was for the Cavaliers against Exeter United. As a debut it went very well only making 2 mistakes at the line out in what was a match full of hand bags. This game sticks in my mind as it was the game that former Warriors 7 Tom Leech had a "coming together" with now Warrior Prop John Andress.
I think it is fair to say Ollie enjoyed his debut more than Andress did, a broken nose and a defeat for his Exeter United side to his soon to be employers.
Ollie has since gone on to make 14 appearances for Worcester scoring 2 tries and being involved in 7 team victories. As 3rd choice hooker he is reliant on injuries and players being rested, which after November 2012 hasn't really happened at the club and therefore has played very little rugby in the run up to the end of the season.
A self proclaimed "Cube Head" Ollie has settled in well at the club and become an integral member of the senior set-up. His desire to play first team rugby and progress as the owner of the #2 shirt has seen him spend many hours on the training field and in the gym "bulking not sulking" which he will hope results in a regular first team place for 2013/2014.
Ed Shervington
Welsh born 1,80m 110Kg Ed Shervington is 28 years old and has played 65 games for Worcester.
Ed previously played for Neath and Gloucester. Having played for Welsh age groups at U18, U19 and U21 levels Ed made his move from Ospreys following the 2009/2010 season ready for our drive to get promotion from the Championship.
A very strong and versatile player, I remember once seeing Ed play at #2 for the first half of a game to then spend the second half as a flanker. Not only did he hold his own in this position he went on to score a brilliant try demonstrating is ability in open play. A very steady thrower and an exceptionally strong athlete Ed is an extremely reliable and capable premiership hooker always adding power at the breakdown.
Any frequent visitors to the David Lloyd complex at Sixways will know this already, but Ed is an exceptional athlete, putting in a massive number of gym hours both improving his already impressive strength and helping his fellow team mates and back room staff.
One peculiarity of the Hooker stats at Worcester is that the win loss ration for all 3 current players is 50/50.
So what can we expect for next season? We have 3 very capable rugby playing hookers available, though at the moment it would appear only 2 will be in contention for the first couple of months of the Premiership season. There would appear to be not much difference between Ed and Ollie in terms of pace, strength and throwing but it is clear that Ed has much more experience of top flight rugby and has been preferred ahead of Ollie in the race for the shirt so regularly held by Aleki Lutui.
This season our line out has been criticised many times and be it through coaching, poor throwing or the limited use of our line out legend Craig Gillies, this is an area of our game that must improve under Dean Ryan next season.
Can we compare our hooker options to those of previous world rugby greats such as; Mario Ledesma, Sean Fitzpatrick or John Smit? Their lack of international honours would say not, though Augustin Creevy, deemed our first choice hooker for next season does have 22 caps for his native Argentina.
Next season our realistic aim should be to achieve a slot in the middle 4 of the premiership in which case we will be battling with the likes of Exeter, Bath and Gloucester. Do our options compare to theirs? Exeter have 5 EQ hookers, including Jack Yeandle & Chris Whitehead. Bath are equally endowed with EQ players utilising Rob Webber and Ross Batty. Gloucester on the other hand call on Australian Huia Edmonds and EQ Darren Dawidiuk. Looking at our nearest premiership rivals I would say that Gus, Ed and Ollie can more than hold their own and I may even be so bold as to say we have greater strength and depth in this key position than the teams we want to be out performing in the league.
Looking further up the table and this seasons title contenders are complimented by names such as Brits, Smit, Chuter, Youngs and Hartley. Can we compete with these guys? Possibly not next season but who knows fo rthe season after that. Although age can certainly bring experience and rugby knowledge we already bring pace, strength and offloads.
Though the words conjured up by a Google search for "Hooker" return as 'strumpet', 'street walker' or 'trollop' Worcester Warriors have 3 options at hooker for next season that whip-up images of talent, youthful experience, physicality, scrum power, pace and skill, which will exceed the teams around us and start to compete with those above.
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