RUGBY UNION: Seymour out to dent London Welsh (From Bicester Advertiser)

RUGBY UNION: Seymour out to dent London Welsh

10:00am Friday 21st September 2012 in Rugby By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

FORMER Chinnor flanker Dave Seymour will be doing his best to stop Oxfordshire’s Aviva Premiership new boys London Welsh tonight.

Sale Sharks captain Seymour starts at openside against the Exiles for the clash at Salford City Stadium (8).

And while the 27-year-old believes having top-flight rugby in Oxford is great news for the city, he will be looking to burst Welsh’s bubble.

“I know a few of the guys from Chinnor have gone to watch London Welsh,” said Seymour, whose family are heavily involved with the Thame-based club.

“It is great to have Premiership rugby locally in Oxfordshire.”

But with Sale having lost all three matches so far, Seymour stressed: “It’s going to be a hard game on Friday.

“So far for us the season has been disappointing. We have not played to our potential.

“London Welsh had a great result on Sunday. They showed what they can do against Exeter.

“Friday is therefore a massive game for us. Every game is a tough one and we expect that against Welsh.

“We have underachieved as a squad this season so far and that’s frustrating. We need to put that right.”

Seymour left Chinnor in 2004 to join Saracens and moved to Sale in 2009.

He said: “In the last year or so there has been a big overhaul, but we are trying to settle things down and keep a consistent squad.”

Welsh surprised many by beating Exeter at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday.

Seymour said: “I think all through the season there will be upsets at either end of the table.

“People like the Premiership for those sorts of games.”

The all-action England Saxons flanker, who won also a silver medal with England Sevens at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, has not given up on winning a full cap.

“It would be a huge honour and something great to achieve,” said Seymour.

“Last year went alright and I was lucky enough to get back into the Saxons squad again.

“We’ll see how it goes, but first and foremost it is about playing for Sale.

“If I can have some good performances, then hopefully I will get a look-in.”

Seymour still watches Chinnor when he can and is hopeful they can survive in National 2 South.

“My brother Pip plays on the wing for the first team and a lot of my family are still around there,” he said.

“They have yo-yoed a bit in the past, but in the last couple of years they have got a good base of players.

“Hopefully, they are now good enough and have enough strength in depth, so that this will be the year they stay up.”