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HOMEGROWN hero Tom Vooght is hoping to make his mark once again after returning to Old Bath Road.
The 32-year-old, who started his rugby journey at the club as a Mini back in 1996, went onto feature in a National Colts Cup final before skippering the club to promotion from National Two South at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Vooght was then a key player in helping the side finish as runners-up in their maiden tilt at Level Three, and currently sits as the sixth highest first-team league try-scorer with 56 in 156 appearances to date
Having spent the past two years at neighbouring Henley, the flanker is relishing his return and said: “I started playing here when I was four, came up through the ranks and to come back to my home club just means everything to me.
“Being back with the coaches, the players who are still around, and hopefully in time the fans, I’ve missed the Rams’ environment.
“I’ve been looking round in training trying to keep up with these young guns, but it’s great to see such talent coming through – some homegrown, some who’ve heard about the reputation of the club and the way things are done here.
“It’s just brilliant to see and great for me, because I try to use it to push myself to another level and I just can’t wait to put in the hard work to try and get the club promoted.”
He continued: “I feel I’ve got some experience and stuff I can share with the younger guys – having played at this level before there’s definitely some things I can pass on.”
Vooght’s first spell with the club featured plenty of highs, and he recalled a couple before explaining what he hopes to bring back to the club for those supporters who have not seen him in action.
He said: “The first Rosslyn Park game (2019) where we won in the dying minutes with two penalty tries, and the home win against Chinnor when their back row were all ex-Premiership and Championship guys and it was myself, Jamie Guttridge and Robbie (Stapley) – when you look at it on paper the match-up was weighted a little heavily in their favour, but we managed to get the better of them that day!
“I pride my self on trying to lead by example – work rate, getting round the park, tackling, winning turnovers and getting possession back for the team.”
Looking back over the past two years and ahead at what is to come, the back row cannot wait to get back into action and admitted it could be an emotional moment if he can regain a place in the starting line-up.
He concluded: “Henley were a brilliant club to be at – they handed me the captaincy and I’ve only got good things to say about them.
“(But coming back) I’ve been thinking about it and if I can get back into the team, I’m going to have to do my best to hold it together because it would mean everything to me to run out in front of the Ramily at Old Bath Road.
“I’m nearer the end of my career than the start and the only thing I wanted to do was finish it back here – if I can get back out in front of that crowd it will be amazing.”
