Sports Journalist Andy Dalrymple caught up with Sportsman of the Year Bevan Rodd after he collected the prestigious award at the Isle of Man Sport Awards.
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00:00 Bevan, congratulations, Sports Personality of the Year in the Isle of Man, how does that sound?
00:05 Yeah, it's something I'm quite used to, obviously it's an honour being here with the amount of talents in this room, let alone this island, so yeah, honestly, I feel very proud, very special.
00:16 It was some year, obviously, you competing at the World Cup, the first adopted man, because we'll call you two against that far. What was the highlight scoring the try against Chile?
00:25 Yeah, try against Chile, making the final with Stale, hopefully go one better this year, so yeah, really good, really happy and then, who knows, what, 23 for the match.
00:34 When you're in that sort of environment, a World Cup, can you enjoy it?
00:39 Yeah, you do enjoy it, but then you do get nervous, I think that's quite natural, so I think just sorting that out and then obviously family helps and stuff like that, so yeah, it's really nice.
00:51 And you talked about it on stage, obviously you're grounding as a rugby player, Neil McGregor, your old teacher, is here with you, how important was that to put you on to the path that you've taken?
01:04 Yeah, it's been really good, obviously Neil, he knows how huge he was for me growing up and then obviously the Bucking as well, being part of that development, sending me to Semper, so yeah, really honoured and proud to be part of the Bucking, it's brilliant.
01:19 And looking forward, obviously you've just had the injury, it sounds like you're on the men now, was that a bit of a frustration this year, because obviously you're looking to kick on and make that sort of starting prop role yours really, were you?
01:30 Yeah, no, yeah, well that was the plan, but obviously, as people know, it doesn't always go to plan, so yeah, regenerate, hopefully I've got better in this period I've had time off and then I'm able to show that again at the end of March.
01:44 And then there was mention tonight of potentially a British Lions call up in the future, I don't know if you were inducted in the Hall of Fame yourself, there was talk of Alf Penketh, what a man to follow really, it's 1880s and to be the second man to do that would be some achievement wouldn't it?
02:03 Yeah, it would be, and it's going to be for the most part impossible to do, so I've got to be making sure I'm playing well and doing my thing and then just be up for selection, that's all I can do really and make sure the coach likes me.
02:16 And finally, I must just talk about the Isle of Man connection with Sale, you mentioned it yourself on stage, Patrice Bell obviously started for Ireland in the 20s last week, had a really great game against Wales and then Harry Thompson you've mentioned yourself, you're the trendsetter really there and those two guys have followed through, the link is great isn't it and it's hopefully a pathway that other players will follow?
02:39 Yeah, of course, I don't think I've set the trends for them, I feel like it's people to do their own thing, Patrice and Harry are great players in their own way, I think they'll do very well at Sale and they're doing very well at Sale so I can see a big future for them.