Joe joined us for the 2013/4 season introduced by our No 8 Tommy Booth. From the Isle of Wight, Joe initially commuted from the island but eventually settled over here. Joe quickly established himself in the 1st XV despite going in at the deep end as we were in National 2 South (level 4) at the time and set a club League debut season record of 28 starts. His value as a team member was recognised by fellow team members when he was awarded The Yarwood Trophy, the winner of the award being decided by the players.
His consistency of playing for the 1st’s was recognised when in only his second season he was awarded a 1st Honours tie in March, recognition of the loyalty shown by a player having made, in Joe’s case, 50 1st XV appearances. At the end of the season, he was awarded his second trophy, this time The John Plank Trophy, awarded to the Player of the Year as decided by the committee. Joe also played for Hampshire in the County Championship Shield. A back row player it was in this his second season that Joe established himself as the first choice No 8.
The following season Joe captained the side for the first time and established a new record of 27 consecutive starts as a No 8, overtaking Gavin Hart’s mark of 24 set in 2011/2. In May he played Openside flanker for Hampshire in the County Championship final at Twickenham, winning 33-11 against Staffordshire. Perhaps almost inevitably Joe was awarded The Bill Johnston Cup as captain of the year.
In April the following season, Joe played for the 100th time for the 1st XV and was again selected to play for Hampshire in the Bill Beaumont Senior Men’s County Championship (Division 2). For the second time Joe was awarded The Sam Yarwood Trophy and was a nominee for the The John Plank Travel Trophy.
In the first game the following season, Joe started his 100th game for the 1st XV and a couple of games later, overtook Andrew Freeman’s record of 64 appearances as No 8 set in 2004/5. In the South play-off away to Guernsey, Joe sets a new record of 87 appearances as No 8 and is captain for the 50th time and, at the end of the season, awarded The Bill Johnston Cup for the second time.
In March the following season, Joe set a new record of 99 appearances as No 8 and was nominee for The Bill Johnston Cup.
In September of the following season, Joe started his 100th game as No 8 and in November, started his 150th game.
This season Joe has reached 129 starts as a No 8 and will register 175 starts if selected for the last game of the season away to Weston-super-Mare,
This is a remarkable 9-season record, one of which was voided by the coronavirus pandemic, and Joe has been one of the most consistent players for the 1st XV, never having a ‘bad game’. We hope he has enjoyed his rugby with us at Bournemouth, but it is always a matter of some regret that we have to say ‘goodbye’ to such a player. ‘Thank you’ Joe, you have been a great servant to Bournemouth. You will be missed of course but we all wish you well for the future.
Career Stats
Lock: 13/4C/t
BS Flanker: 12
OS Flanker: 20/2t
No 8: 129/70C/12t. This is the club career-appearances record for a No 8.
Starts: 174/76C/13t
Substitute: 3
Played: 177/76C/13t.
