GRUFC "Profile a Player" Karl Hart
Karl, You are a fairly new member of GRUFC and most people will not realise that you have designed and written the new club website. Like myself, I believe that you originate from Yorkshire, so there can't be much wrong with you. So, how did you start playing rugby?
My local club, Pocklington, organised a tag tournament for all the local primary schools when I was 11. I really enjoyed it and took myself down to the club the next day to sign up and have been playing ever since.
Tell us something about your rugby career, which clubs you have played for?
I played for Pock through the junior ranks up to U17 and then straight into senior rugby. I played at Uni and then returned to Pock to 1st team action. I then moved to York and played for York RI. And now I'm a proud member of GRUFC. I also play for the Beerbarians touring team.
Do you have any match day superstitions?
Not really, I don't think so. Having said that I do tend to skip onto the pitch. I don't know if that is a superstition or just me being camp!
Any other sporting achievements?
I played at Twickenham once. I played in a curtain raiser a few years ago now. It was before England v South Africa and so for our game we played as England v South Africa too. I played on the team in the SA colours and so when I scored a try I had 50,000 people booing me. So it was my proudest sporting moment, but I also wanted to cry.
Do you play any other sports or have any other pastimes?
Not anymore. Back in the day when I used to have free time I learned to pilot gliders, I used to play drums in a band and I used to do downhilling on my bike but all that has now stopped.
What's your biggest ever disaster during a game, if you have ever had one?.
Having played in the back 3 all my life, my university coach, in his wisdom, decided to try me out at fly-half. He didn't tell me this until the morning of the match and brilliantly it was against Loughborough Uni. Needless to say I got absolutely mullered and took one hell of a beating by their 7, 6 and 8. In that order.
Any amusing on pitch or other rugby incidents that you would like to recall for us?
I have scored a try wearing a giant baby grow on more than one occasion!!
It's our round, what do you fancy?
Always with the lager. Fosters if you have it.
Who is your favourite pin-up-girl (mum/girlfriends/mistresses don't count) ?
I've just seen Transformers so I think I'm gonna have to say Megan Fox
Who would choose to play you in the film version of your life?
Johnny Depp. I don't know why he was the first actor I could think of with dark hair.
What would be your theme song?
Why was he Born so Beautiful, Why was he Born at All…
Your fantasy career?
I would like to run my own business. Not get involved in the day to day stuff though, I'd just like to tell other people how to run my company. Pop into the office, shout at a few people, answer a few calls and then head home for the day having earnt £10,000. That kinda thing.
How would you blow £50,000?
Go and live somewhere exotic for a year. Living the high life and blow it all. And then return to normality.
If you could own any car what would it be?
No no no no no. The question should be any if I could own any vehicle. In which case I would replace my stolen Yamaha YZF R6. It was a dream machine and is sorely missed. (I did not know that you were a bike freak Karl! For you non bikers, the F6 was and possibly still is, the fastest 600 ever made.)
What would be your three desert island books ?
Not really a book man I'm afraid. Maybe the Guinness Book of Records and if I was gonna be on the island a long time I'd try to memorise them all, just to keep me busy.
What are your three all time favourite music tracks (and who by)?
Free Bird - Lynard Skynard
Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
Shoe Boat - GRUFC
What would your ideal holiday be?
Adventure holiday in NZ for about a month. Trying everything. Topped off with a tour of the South Sea Islands.
If you were on a long flight who would you most like to sit next to and have a good long chat?
Brad Pitt, maybe he'd sell me some soap and I'd end up fighting him.
Thank you Karl
Tim Hopkins, The other Yorkshire Web Master