Charlie Atkinson can see the humorous aspect now.
“I imply, I met my hero,” he says smilingly.
Atkinson is remembering his second Prem look, again in September 2020. He was 18 years previous. He had been ushered straight into the Wasps first group as squads have been stretched to fulfil a condensed post-lockdown fixture checklist
Atkinson had simply come off the bench towards Saracens when, having fielded a kick downfield, he was blindsided by Owen Farrell’s reckless, excessive deal with. Atkinson was left unconscious on the Stonex pitch because the referee confirmed purple.
Farrell was immediately contrite, ready on the touchline to examine on Atkinson after which visiting him once more within the dressing room.
The incident, as with something involving Farrell, attracted consideration and debate.
“It undoubtedly put my title on the market,” provides Atkinson.
“It was clearly unintentional, however because it was a concussion I used to be despatched residence for the week, I did not play once more that season. It was most likely factor, slowing down in order that at 18, I might simply give attention to coaching and getting used to males’s rugby.”
Atkinson is nice at seeing the upside. He has needed to be. Perspective comes with expertise and he has been by means of a lot already in his rugby profession.
Three days after his twenty first birthday, having established himself as his boyhood membership’s first-choice fly-half, he unknowingly performed in Wasps’ remaining ever sport, a dramatic 40-36 defeat by Northampton.
“We would seen a number of rumours on Twitter that week however nothing main and we hadn’t heard something from the proprietor or CEO, so we simply thought ‘we’ll be alright’,” he says.
“It was a wasn’t even actually at the back of my thoughts.
“That subsequent Tuesday or Wednesday they broke the information that our jobs have been gone. It was clearly very unhappy, it was the one membership I ever knew.”
After Wasps went into administration in October 2022, Gloucester and Harlequins made approaches to signal Atkinson. However he was satisfied by a gathering with Steve Borthwick, who had simply steered Leicester to the Premiership title and was providing the safety of an extended deal.
Atkinson duly signed up with Tigers. Borthwick and assistant Kevin Sinfield departed for England two months later.
Beneath new boss Dan McKellar, Atkinson endured a tough yr at Mattioli Woods Welford Highway, shunted to the fringes.
Nonetheless, he had simply accomplished on a home buy in Leicester, when, every week later, his agent knowledgeable him Gloucester had agreed a deal to take him to Kingsholm.
Lastly, regardless of the upheaval, he has discovered a house.
“I am simply perpetually grateful for Gloucester for coming in then as a result of who is aware of the place I might have ended up if I would stayed on the Tigers,” he says.
“I like coming in right here on daily basis. There’s a nice, younger core of men, we made some nice signings in the summertime and everybody’s mates with everybody. It is only a nice feeling on the minute.”
Gloucester, who completed eighth final season, have began this marketing campaign like a prepare.
Buoyed by the arrival of Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Jean Kleyn and others, they mixed heft up entrance with deft arms out again to beat Prem finalist Exeter on the opening day, earlier than flattening Harlequins 48-0 in entrance of a bouncing residence crowd.
The Cherry and Whites sit in an unaccustomed place on the highest of the Prem pile.
Up subsequent, on Friday evening, is a return to Leicester for Atkinson.
After the match, he’ll meet up with Jack van Poortvliet, Freddie Steward and others who he grew to become mates with throughout his time at Tigers.
Such is Atkinson’s type, he may very well be spending extra time with them in England camps.
