One of the shining stars for Your Sharks in an up and down season has been a big local lad with a big point to prove and an even bigger future. Second row Ben Bamber has started every Gallagher PREM game this season and that’s led to England A recognition….and now a new Sharks contract keeping the 25-year-old at the club until 2030.
It’s a deal that’s testament to the belief that Ben, who has made 76 Sharks appearances, has in what’s building at a club he says ‘holds a special place’ in his heart. And it gives him plenty of chance to hone his skills after a late introduction to the sport.
“I’ve probably played more this season than I was expecting to,” Ben said. “Coming into the new role of calling the lineout has helped, and we’ve had a few injuries in the second row so that’s given me more chances.
“The biggest thing for me though has been playing every week and having the consistency of playing. The more you play the better you get and the more consistency you build in your game.
“Being confident in your position means your confidence builds and you can get a proper week of prep. It’s also brilliant for building relationships with the lads you’re playing with every week. I’ve played so many times with Ernie now, and we get on so well, that we don’t even really need to speak – we just know what we’re going to do.
“I still feel like I’m learning but I think that should be the case for everyone. There’s always something to learn – I just think that when you’re late to the game like me, you have to learn a bit quicker.
“That means more time on my laptop watching clips and studying in the week to see what the opposition is likely to do, what pictures they’re likely to present and how we’re going to respond.”
One of Ben’s biggest challenges this season has been taking the responsibility of calling the lineouts. By his own admission it’s been ‘up and down’ with fixtures at Bath, Gloucester and, most recently, Leinster posing plenty of problems.
“Calling the lineout this year has been challenge but I’ve enjoyed it,” Ben said. “It’s been a bit up and down, but I think it really comes down to the work we do in the week. If we have a good week of seeing the right pictures and testing ourselves in the right way, it’ll translate into the game.
“We’ve had a few different hookers this season and it’s good to build relationships, but everyone in the squad knows the calls and is able to perform at this level. Part of my learning process this season has been learning to adapt what I’m doing and what calls I’m making depending on who’s throwing.
“It’s a balance because I need to always make the right call and then trust the hooker to throw, but I know different calls and different types of throws suit certain hookers.
“We’ve had a few games this season that have been really important in terms of learnings. Away at Northampton was a big one and then there was a throw at the end against Bath when we didn’t get it right, but I felt it was the right call.
“The game away at Leinster was tough and we learned a few lessons. Everywhere you looked there was someone who could beat you to the ball and it was really difficult.
“But those are the games when you learn. You learn more when it’s not going well and you’re up against it than when it’s all going well. Personally, I’ve learned so much from the games where we’ve taken a bit of a hiding. Gloucester in the Prem Cup was hard and against Northampton away in the Prem we didn’t compete once against them – that’s 16 uncontested throws.
“It wasn’t a decision to not compete, we just weren’t good enough and that led to them getting a lot of ball and us having to make a lot of tackles.
“A big thing for me is learning to be calm in the big moments. If I’m flustered or I’m not confident in what I’m doing, that transmits itself to the lads and they might not be confident in the call, the speed might not be there and that’s when it all goes wrong.
“There’s so much that goes into a lineout. We’ve got maybe 30 calls, a lot of pre-calls and then maul calls, and on top of that there will be situations when you have to think on the fly.
“It’s a big responsibility but I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s progressed me a lot in my game.”
Your Sharks sit in seventh in the Gallagher PREM table after a season that has yielded just four league wins. But Ben says the experience gained by young players, given chances by injuries, will stand the squad in good stead.
“The season, in terms of results, hasn’t been good enough,” he said. “It’s hard to put your finger on one thing to fix because an awful lot goes into a good performance.
“A lot of it comes down to nailing our basics – taking metres in attack, being good over the ball, taking people on physically and being decisive in everything we do. If we have our basics right then that’s something we can fall back on when our backs are against the wall.
“Looking at the broader picture, a lot of young lads like Alfie Longstaff and Ralph McEachran have had the chance to learn what it takes to perform at this level and what it feels like when you don’t. That’s invaluable for them.
“I’m only 25 but I’ve felt like one of the older lads at times. Looking longer term, those young lads getting that experience will stand us in good stead.”
And that brings us onto the future and for Ben, that means exciting times on and off the field, where his partner Kayla is expecting the couple’s first child.
“Plenty to go after this season but I’m excited about what’s coming too,” he said. “Some really great lads and mates are leaving us and that’s really sad but that’s rugby for you. I’m looking forward to getting some new ideas and experience from new faces. It’s really exciting.
“I was leaving the training ground the day before it was announced and someone said we’d signed Courtney Lawes. I was buzzing about it – I couldn’t believe it.
“He’s someone I’m looking forward to learning from because he’s been there and done everything in the game. He’s got over 100 caps and he’s still playing at a really good level. You can’t buy that experience and everyone’s looking forward to getting him in.
“I want us to get back to being horrible to play against because too often this season we’ve been too nice to play against.
“On the personal front, I’m expecting my first child and that’s definitely contributed to how I’ve played and how happy I’ve been this season. When I found out, the first thing I thought was how brilliant it would be to have him watch me play or run out with me onto the pitch. Or getting him his first Sale kit. I can’t wait.”
Ben’s form this season was rewarded with an England A call-up for the fixture against Ireland at Thomond Park in February. It was, he hopes, just one of the first steps on the road to full international recognition.
“I need to keep working hard, keep learning, keep playing well for Sale and knocking on the door and the chances will come,” he added.
“I’ve had a couple of chats with Steve Borthwick, most recently during the last A team camp. That feedback is great because it tells me I’m doing the right thing.
“But I know it all comes down to my Sale form.
“This club helped me fall back in love with rugby and I’m so grateful. It’s given me my Prem Cup debut, my Prem debut and my Champions Cup debut and given me the chance to play with some amazing players and learn from great coaches.
“I grew up round the corner and the club holds a really special place in my heart. You can see what’s building here and where the club wants to go. I know it’s not been the best season but everyone here wants to make this happen. This is just a little blip, that’s all.”
