Charlie Walker vowed this week to delay special birthday celebrations in a bid to keep hold of his hard-earned Harlequins shirt.
The young winger, who scored the only try of Quins’ 17-3 Heineken Cup win over Racing Metro in Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off – his second try in as many weeks – turns 21 two days before Christmas.
However, the only present the former England youth international wants to mark his landmark day is keeping his shirt for Saturday’s visit to high-fliers Bath and the rest of Quins’ punishing Christmas schedule.
So as far as he is concerned the parties are on hold. He said: “It’s the big one next week, but December is being a good month to me at the moment and there are some massive games over Christmas.
“So if I get back in the squad this week we will have to leave any celebrations until next summer – I think I can live with that.”
The back-to-back tries in the clashes with Metro have continued something of a renaissance for Walker this season after a period in the sport’s wilderness in his second season at Quins two years ago.
Everything appeared to be going well after a good start in London, some sevens exposure in Hong Kong and a strong Six Nations performance earned him a call-up to England’s U20s World Cup squad.
He admits he suffered something of a meltdown on the big stage, but says that is all
behind him now and he is relishing the challenge again.
He said: “I just seemed to lose all confidence and have a big dip in form at the worst possible time,
but that confidence is back now, people want to give me the ball again and I can’t wait to get it.”
Walker tempers his excitement and optimism with a dose of reality, acknowledging competition for places at the Stoop from more experienced heads like Tom Williams, Paul Sackey and Ugo Monye means there is plenty of work to do if he is to be a regular fixture in the team.
And while he believes he brings unique qualities to the table, he knows it is the less glamorous
stuff which may ultimately be the key to keeping the shirt he craves.
He added: “It is not like the old days when if you were quick you went on the wing or if you could
kick you played 10.
“It is an all-round game now and the likes of Tom, Paul and Ugo do all the other little things well. If I can do that consistently too then the breaks will come.”
