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Determined Cruse ready for top-four scrap with Saints

Staying positive in adversity has paid dividends for new Northampton Saints hooker Tom Cruse, who is looking forward to a return to stability after a turbulent few months in his career.

The 33-year-old signed for Saints until the end of the season on Monday to provide some experienced cover in his position, following an injury to Sam Matavesi earlier this month.

It represents a return to the Gallagher Premiership for Cruse after he became one of dozens of rugby players suddenly left out of work when Wasps fell into administration in October and made their entire first-team squad redundant.

The fact his counterparts from Worcester Warriors had been put in the same position by the demise of their own club only made finding a new team all the more difficult.

Cruse actually played alongside several of his fellow ‘free agents’ when he gained some much-need time on the field while representing the Barbarians against Bath back in the autumn.

But the former Rotherham Titan always held faith that he would earn another contract somewhere – faith that was rewarded when he signed a short-term deal with Edinburgh, of the United Rugby Championship, in November.

Reflecting on what was an uncertain period of transition, Cruse said: “I was worried [about being able to go to work again] at first, most definitely.

“A few of us were training together – I think we started with about 10 or 15 of us and numbers started to dwindle as lads picked up contracts.

“There was a session at some point in November where there were three of us running at a local rugby club and there were some dark conversations going on, but we kept ourselves positive and luckily all of the lads I was running with got jobs.

“There are a couple [from Wasps] that still haven’t and obviously fingers crossed for them that they get an opportunity, but I remained positive throughout.”

Tom Cruse

Cruse’s dedication to keeping himself fit while unattached led to him making five appearances during his time with Edinburgh, who he helped qualify for the round of 16 of the Heineken Champions Cup.

This was all the more impressive considering he had little time to get used to the Scottish side’s patterns of play, having become used to a certain style during six years with Wasps.

“It was weird at first, but it was also nice to go in with a fresh mentality and just get a new eye for the game,” Cruse said.

“I was under coaches with a fresh perspective of the game and I was obviously playing in a new competition as well, so it just forced me to be in the moment a little bit. I had loads of learning to do.

“I really enjoyed it, obviously. It goes without saying I missed the boys at Wasps, and the club we had going there, but with the disappointment that went on comes new opportunity.

“It was great to experience the URC, it was great to experience new coaches and get a new eye on my game and try and still improve.

“Now I can get back home with the family and continue to grow my game with fresh eyes from Dows [Phil Dowson] and the coaches as well.”

Tom Cruse

Being back with his family was why Cruse was so keen to eventually get back playing in the Premiership, which has proven to be more competitive than ever this season, with just ten points separating third-placed Harlequins from bottom club Bristol Bears.

With eight matches of the regular season left, Saints lie sixth but just two points off the top four and Cruse is looking forward to the thrills and spills that await in the coming months.

“It’s what I know,” he said. “I love the league, it’s an amazing league, it’s a competitive league.

“It was nice to play in the URC and get a different experience of how it’s done up there, but it’s great to be back and I can’t wait to get going.”

Cruse won’t exactly be easing himself in at the end of what is his first week with Saints, as his first action in Black, Green and Gold is set to be in Saturday’s East Midlands derby against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Regarding the Tigers as fierce rivals is certainly one adjustment he won’t have to make, considering he was part of plenty of tasty Midlands clashes against them during his time with Wasps.

Cruse said: “I know enough about playing at Leicester away, although obviously I’ve not been involved in a big historic derby like this one before.

“I’m watching how training is and after being involved in training I can feel that extra bit of bite and extra edge, so I can get a feel for it, definitely.

“It is something that I am massively looking forward to.”

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