Most of us have had some time on our hands due to the Covid-19 lockdown, so with rugby games cancelled and very little to do on a Saturday afternoon I sat down to select my 'Colchester Dream XV' based upon a couple of rules:

1. Select players I have seen play Colchester 1st XV senior rugby
2. Select players who have actually represented our 1st XV as a senior (this rules out the likes of Lewis Ludlam and Mike Haywood).

Hopefully, my selection will generate some debate and might even inspire out supporters to pick their own 'Dream XV' from their era. My era is quite limited because I didn't move to Colchester until 2005 and did not regularly watch 1st XV rugby until 2011. I think it is fair to say that I have probably seen the best of Colchester because by achieving promotion to the National Leagues in 2015 our boys competed at a higher level than any other Colchester side in history, that said, every generation tends to throw up a few players who could have probably played at a higher level but decided to remain loyal to their local club.

Reflecting on the task, we have been very fortunate to watch some superb rugby at Colchester and we are also blessed with some very loyal, honest lads who could have easily succumbed to the lure of the money offered by other local sides. Picking the back row was particularly difficult; I was spoilt for choice and could have possibly picked two very well-matched 6, 7 and 8's. There is also a raft of great Colchester players who, due to my self-imposed rules meant that I could not pick them. A classic case is Roy Abrehart. Many people who I consider to be excellent judges will say there has never been a player who has had a greater impact at Colchester than Roy Abrehart. A combative hooker, famed for the deadly accuracy of his throwing, Roy's talent was spotted by Saracens in the early 90's. In different times he would have certainly been part of the professional rugby elite. Roy still turns out on a Saturday for the Roundheads and Cavaliers and will forever be considered a legend at Colchester RFC.

So, here's my starting XV and bench...

Prop - Mark Braidwood
Although 'Cracker' didn't make his way into the front row until he moved to New Zealand, he spent the majority of his time in the back row at Colchester, but when he finally found his home in the front row, he never looked back. Competing in arguably the toughest domestic rugby on the planet, Cracker lined up alongside the likes of Israel Dagg and Brodie Retallick for the Hawks Bay Magpies. Tough, uncompromising and a dynamic ball carrier who will get a side over the gain line time and time again.

Hooker - Tom Crozier
There was massive competition for this spot with the likes of Charlie Thorogood, Dan Brennan and Sam Butler all in the running. That's not to mention the club legend Roy Abrehart who I could not select because I never had the pleasure of seeing him play 1st XV rugby for Colchester. Tom is the classic modern hooker - athletic, great hands and the ability to appear in a forward position as a supporting runner. Tom has also proved himself in the most hostile and competitive domestic game in the world (New Zealand) for Canterbury, Manawatu and Bay of Plenty.

Prop - James Mitchell
Without a shadow of a doubt one of the most effective props around. His sheer physical presence on the pitch and try-scoring record speaks for itself. Unlike many prop forwards James also has incredibly good hands and feet! An incredibly powerful scrummager and with James as the cornerstone of this front row, the scrum becomes a real weapon.

Lock - Lee Soper
There's no way I could leave out my old mate Lee Soper; one of the best line out operators in the game; a superb leader of men and an even better herder of cats! Lee showed his class in 2015-16 where he came into a side low on confidence and proceeded to lead our boys to a succession of wins in January and February - this run virtually guaranteed our survival in National League 3 and resulted in a top ten finish. Lee has top-flight rugby experience and he cut his teeth in the deepest, darkest corners of Cornish rugby and if you can cut it as a forward in Cornwall, you'll cut it anywhere. Lee would also lead the forwards and call the line out strategy.

Lock - Liam Pickett
Liam captained Colchester for three years in and in my role as 1st XV Manager I was able to see just how much he put into every single game. Liam's defensive work is second to none and his tackling is ferocious; often resulting in a turnover ball. Liam is very effective in the line out and his scrummaging on the tighthead side is superb. Locks come in pairs and Liam's selection would compliment Lee Soper perfectly.

Flanker - Daniel Whiteman
Again, I could be accused of bias, but as 1st XV Manager I have seen his work from the 'inside' and there is no more committed and hard-working rugby player than Dan Whiteman. For the last five years, it has been a privilege to observe Dan at work. No one works harder on their fitness and this has had an enormous impact on his performances - how many times in tight games has his speed across the pitch resulted in a breakaway try where he leaves his opponents for dead? Defensively, nothing gets through with this back row.

Flanker - Oliver Pickett
In one version of my side, I had Oly on the bench, adopting a strategy of introducing him in the second half to terrorise a tiring side with his aggressive and unpredictable offence. On second thoughts, however, I saw the light and came to the conclusion that Oly is someone you want alongside you in a battle. He never takes a backward step and there's no such thing as a lost cause when he's on the pitch. In the last three years, the side has very much relied upon him as the principle ball carrier; this is phenomenally hard work and takes its toll on the body, but Oly never complains and invariably gets the job done.

No.8 - James McRae
James spent one season with us before he went to Exeter University in 2015, but in that season he made an enormous impact as an 18-year old in the senior game. James has made incredible progress, captaining England Students, becoming part of the Exeter Chiefs squad and, more recently, under dual registration with the Cornish Pirates in the Rugby Championship. James has a phenomenal engine but that he was a class player six years ago who has undoubtedly developed into a superb professional.

Scrum Half - Matt Wadling
Again, this was a tough decision, but in this case, I have gone for the 'whole is greater than the sum of the parts' because having Matt Wadling in the side increases my sides ability to produce the unexpected and, furthermore, Matt Wadling is a great competitor who is willing to back himself and take a chance, even when the chips are down. Deceptively tough, Wadling is an outstanding defender who never backs down from a challenge.

Fly Half - David Higgins
To quote Alan Partridge: "he's got a foot like a traction engine!" Higgy has an incredible skillset and on his day he's a matchwinner. Kicking from hands, or off the floor, there's no one better and to his great credit, Higgy has worked incredibly hard on the other aspects of his game. In the last two years his physicality, strength and ball-carrying have become a real feature of his game. Added to this, any penalty within 50 odd yards of the posts is a potential three points or a line out within 5 meters of the try line with Higgy in your side

Wing - James Crozier
In my opinion, one of the first names on the team sheet. I have great respect for James because, like Dan Whiteman, he is wholly committed to maintaining his fitness and level of performance. James is an incredibly honest and reflective player who contributes as much to the collective as he does to his own game. James is a consistent finisher and his defence is near flawless. Added to this he's able to switch to full back and his place kicking in the last few years has become a real feature of his game.

Centre - Matt Smith
This was another easy selection. Matt is now playing for Dings Crusaders in the National Leagues. Again, a star of our first season in the National Leagues, Matt Smith had it all; pace, power, tackles and tactical awareness. Matt Smith's 'signature move' would be a huge midfield tackle and turnover followed by a diagonal run-in to score. Matt was also the perfect complement to his centre partner...

Centre - Callum Irvine
In addition to making may starting XV, Callum would also be my choice for captain. Importantly, Callum was a great communicator and always at the heart of the action. His midfield partnership with Matt Smith was a key factor in our 2014-15 promotion and top ten finish in National League 3. Callum's game was founded upon his superb defence, but he also had the game to release the creativity around him.

Wing - Owen Herbert
An out and out finisher. When Colchester made their National League debut, Owen Herbert scored a phenomenal number of tries against quality opponents. Owen is one of the quickest wingers we have ever seen at Colchester and his ability to wrong-foot defenders from a standing start was a joy to watch. We've been lucky to have some really quick wingers at Colchester over the years, but Owen made a massive impact at Level 5 against quality opposition

Full Back - Brett Cutbush
Although sometimes a reluctant full-back, Brett is by some considerable margin, the best full-back I have seen in a Colchester shirt. In truth, Brett could have made my side at scrum-half, fly-half, centre or full back, such is his skill set and versatility. Having Brett in the side ensures that you have a very tactically astute and natural footballer who can cover a whole host of positions to a very high standard - priceless.

The Bench

Brock Price
The pack (particularly 4-8) was very difficult to select and I went through several combinations including the likes of Harrison Pickett, Kieran Payne, Eli Castle and Jamie Miller, so the forward replacement berth was hotly contested. I eventually went with Brock Price. Brock can put in the hard tackles and yards but he also had the knack of popping up in the full-back position under a high ball or appearing in the inside channel alongside the winger. Brock had a massive impact on our side in the 2018-19 season where his hard-running approach even saw him have a spell in the side at centre showing his versatility and all-round game; this made him the perfect bench choice.

Adam Cook
A great player to have up your sleeve and on the bench - a 'Swiss Army Knife' of a player. He will do a job in the front row (hooker), back row and certainly in the midfield. Adam can play virtually anywhere and you'll never find a more intelligent and astute rugby player who's a superb on-field 'coach'. I haven't checked this with him, but at one time or another, I suspect that he has probably played nearly every single position for Colchester, other than maybe scrum half!

Damien Brambley
Damien Is another player who could have easily made it into my side in a number of positions. Damien is a match-winner and has a habit of producing a moment of magic that can turn a game and demoralise the opposition. For that reason, he's always worth a place either in the side or on the bench.

So, there you have it! Jon Smith's ultimate XV. Send us an email with your Dream XV and your reasons why and we'll feature them on the website.