Walder out to prove Falcons wrong
Unemployed fly-half ready to write new CV
England Saxons fly-half Dave Walder is determined to "ram a few rods down a few people's throats" and prove that Newcastle Falcons boss Rob Andrew was wrong to dump him.
Walder is still bitter at being released by the Falcons, his home-town club, after seven seasons and with a year remaining on his current contract.
Andrew explained there was no room for him at the club with Jonny Wilkinson fit again and Toby Flood also on the books.
It took Walder a fortnight of "moping around" to digest the news – legal wranglings over a settlement package continue – but he is now determined to turn the situation into the best opportunity of his career.
And that process begins on Saturday. Walder will be in the shop window when he starts for the England Saxons against Scotland A in the opening round of the Churchill Cup in Toronto.
He said: "I was joking with our kit man – I want my phone number put across the top of my shirt. Or I could do the footballer thing and get a T-shirt printed with 'unemployed' and my number on the front.
"At the moment it is pretty hard to take but maybe in a year's time I'll be thanking Rob for doing it. This is an opportunity for me.
"Wherever I go, I'll be on edge for a year trying to impress new people rather than working with people who know what I can do. Hopefully that will drive me on to bigger and better things.
"When I find somewhere new I'll throw myself into it and maybe ram a few rods down a few people's throats. That would be nice."
Essentially that means breaking into England's World Cup plans. Walder is on his third Churchill Cup tour but has so far failed to take the step up to Test level.
He is acutely aware that needs to change, and fast.
"If I am honest, I haven't necessarily taken the chances I have had," he said.
"I know deep down I haven't performed consistently well enough to stake a claim with England. Hopefully now I will get a chance to do that."
Walder has already had contact with Welsh regions Cardiff and the Newport Gwent Dragons – but he wants to remain in the Guinness Premiership.
The chance of returning to Kingston Park and exacting his revenge holds a certain allure.
"One of my big rugby ambitions was to win the Premiership with Newcastle and that's not going to happen now," said Walder.
"My eyes have been opened. The other clubs places I have been to are unbelievable in comparison."
