Onwards and upwards for Gustard

Paul Gustard took the selfish route to becoming the latest member of a pretty elusive club.

On the weekend Leicester will attempt to become the first team to retain the Heineken Cup, the 26-year-old flanker can reflect on becoming one of the few players to have quit the Premiership champions and seen their careers prosper as a result.

Only Will Greenwood has managed that spectacular feat and even he did not leave Welford Road in mid-season, as Gustard did when he joined London Irish on loan in January.

Although he was able to play no part in the Exiles’ Powergen Cup triumph at Twickenham last month, Gustard has done enough in his Premiership outings for the Reading-based club to ensure selection in the England back-row for Sunday’s clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham.

It is more than adequate compensation for the minor role he would have played in the Tigers’ assault on European glory.

‘‘I got the opportunity to join Irish after the New Year,’’ he said.

‘‘It was a big decision, but I had to be selfish. I was getting the chance to play every week and Irish have the kind of open, running game which suits my style.

‘‘I wasn’t playing very often, so I went for it and I love it so much I have joined them permanently.’’

Gustard admits he owes a huge debt of gratitude to Tigers coaching duo Dean Richards and John

Wells, both of whom played an integral part in his development as a player and placed no obstacles in his path when he indicated a willingness to move.

But his decision to stay with Irish is proof Gustard was just as impressed by the work ethic of Brendan Venter and Garry Gold at his new club.

Venter collected director of rugby and overseas player of the year awards from Premiership sponsors Zurich earlier this week.

And it did not take Gustard long to realise how hard-earned those accolades were.

‘‘I knew what was expected of me within a couple of hours,’’ he admitted.

‘‘Brendan is a pretty fierce bloke, but genuine too. Even on the training pitch he is so determined.

‘‘He never gives anything less than 100% and demands the same of everyone around him.

‘‘Like most people, I expected London Irish to be near the bottom of the table this season, but after two or three months it became pretty apparent that wasn’t going to happen.

‘‘When I went there with Leicester in December it was one of the toughest games I had ever experienced.’’

The combination of Leicester’s excellence and the Exiles’ drive has taken Gustard to the brink of a full England cap.

Although Sunday’s game is not recognised as an international, a decent performance will book him a seat on the plane for next month’s two-match tour to Argentina.

And he has the example of two close friends from his Tigers days as proof that once he has achieved that recognition, anything is possible.

‘‘Last year Ben Kay and Lewis Moody went to North America with England when the Lions were away and now they are established in the full squad,’’ said Gustard.

‘‘If anyone thinks they are just turning up to pull on an England shirt for a day because everyone else is injured, they are probably in the wrong place.

‘‘Professional sport is all about taking chances. It doesn’t matter how they arrive, you have to do grasp the opportunity.’’