Wilf McCarthy Interview: ‘When you put it like that, it has been pretty mad!’
Wilf McCarthy played an integral part in Hartpury's first BUCS Super Rugby success since 2019
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It has been a whirlwind month for Hartpury University centre Wilf McCarthy.
After winning the BUCS Super Rugby Championship in April, he was then named BSR Player of the Season following a superb campaign.
Just last week, it was announced that the young centre was one of five new signings for Leicester Tigers under new head coach Geoff Parling, and now McCarthy is currently away with England Students preparing to represent his country against France Universities.
“When you say it all like that, it’s been pretty mad!” McCarthy tells TRU.
“I’ve learnt a lot from my first and second years at Hartpury. I think it's such a professional environment for a university. It’s all about learning, being a sponge and learning as much as I can.
“I've really enjoyed my rugby, and I've had some amazing coaches who've been just some of the best people I've met in my rugby journey so far.
“I’ve been trying to take as much as possible from my experiences. I'm just finding the enjoyment for the game and playing for the right reasons, not thinking, just doing.
“It’s so exciting to sign with a club like Leicester with its heritage and how successful they've been, and the players they've got. I’m just looking forward to learning from everyone and looking forward to the opportunity.”
This season in BUCS Super Rugby, under head coach Dan Murphy, Hartpury finished second in the league, four points behind Loughborough, but went on to exact their revenge in the championship final with a brilliant 34-21 victory at Rodney Parade.
“This season’s been quality,” continues McCarthy. “We had that main senior group of us who have come up through the three years of our undergraduates together.
“We always want to be a top four team, and that's what Murph pushed for every year, but to actually finish in second, four points behind league leaders Loughborough and then to win the cup, that's the one you want to win.
“And now with Murph going on to bigger and better things at Gloucester-Hartpury, it’s such a special way to end.”
As McCarthy touches on, Murphy was recently appointed as head coach of the three-time Premiership Women's Rugby champions, following in the footsteps of his predecessor Sean Lynn.
But it’s not only Murphy who is moving onto pastures new next season, with McCarthy signing a contract at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
“I've never been in a fully professional environment,” McCarthy says, a week on from signing his contract with Leicester.
“For one, just to be given the opportunity to be in an environment like that, I'm going to just take it with two hands and just dive straight into it.
“Mid-season this year, I honestly didn't think that I was going to get something/a rugby opportunity after university.
“So before getting the contract, I’d applied to Brown University in America, which is an Ivy League school. I've tried really hard at academics, focusing on that as well as rugby, just so you've got that other option.
“I absolutely loved playing for Hartpury and I think the stuff that has come from that is great, but it has also been about enjoying the process and the journey.”
McCarthy will become one of the latest BUCS Super Rugby stars to move into the professional environment, and being named in the England Students squad has only added to the accolades the Hartpury centre has already achieved this season.
Representing England Students can be considered as the highest honour in the university game and this year they return to Terrasson in the South-West of France, the scene of their famous 2023 triumph.
Twelve months ago, it was a thriller at Butts Park Arena in Coventry - which eventually saw France Universities come out on top - but now headed up by Loughborough University head coach Martin Webdale, England are looking for revenge.
Notable names that have represented England Students in the past include Will Greenwood and Lawrence Dallaglio and, more recently, Bristol’s Fitz Harding and Harlequins' Luke Northmore.
McCarthy and his fellow peers are currently in camp preparing for the academic version of ‘Le Crunch’, and he is relishing the opportunity to be selected for a second time.
“It's a quality opportunity,” says McCarthy, who is one of six Hartpury players in the squad.
“I got into England Students in my first year, which was away in Terrason, but got cut in the second year. To be selected again in the third year is really special because now I know how hard it is to be here, and I’m just soaking up every moment of it.”
Alongside the Hartpury cohort, there are seven representatives from Loughborough, three from Exeter University and Leeds Beckett, two from Bath and one piece from Durham and Nottingham, respectively.
“It's class to play with boys that you've played against all season,” McCarthy continues. “It's really special to get to know them and actually play with them.
“Both sides of the ball are just going to be super, super competitive. The French love to play so we need to be fit, we need to be on our toes.
“More importantly, I've said it to the boys this week, just be present and just enjoy every moment here. When you put on that shirt, you back everyone who's going to be on the field.”
England Students take on France Universities on Saturday, the 24th May in Terrasson Lavilledieu.
England Students Squad
Alex Davies (Leeds Beckett), Alfie Griffin (Bath), Ben Parkin (Leeds Beckett), Carn Richards-Farr (Hartpury), Dan Eckersley (Loughborough), Elliot Gourlay (Loughborough), Jacob Cusick (Loughborough), Josiah Edwards- Giraud (Hartpury), Lucas Dorrell (Exeter), Max Knight (Hartpury), Max Pearce (Bath), Morgan Meredith (Loughborough), Noah Fenton (Exeter), Ollie Mullarkey (Leeds Beckett), Oran Murphy (Loughborough), Oscar Stott (Durham), Rhys Price (Hartpury), Seb Smith (Loughborough), Tom Gulley (Exeter), Tim Worts (Hartpury), Wilf McCarthy (Hartpury), Will Ramply (Nottingham), Yande Nkonge (Loughborough)
