Veteran second-row Ashley Russell will play his 462nd game for Weston-super-Mare’s 1stXV on Saturday in the Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West home game against Launceston, setting a new club record.
Russell made his first team debut at blindside flanker as a 19-year-old in the National League 3 South 14-5 home victory over Redruth in December 2002, having started his rugby career with Weston’s Under 9s.
Included in that pre-Christmas game against Redruth was loosehead prop Mark Matthews, who is now Weston’s director of rugby. He recalls his earliest recollection of Ash was reacting to his father's instructions.
‘Jack said - Mongo, pick up the Frog from Hutton Moor on your way back to the club,” said Matthews. “A wide-eyed teenager, all arms and legs, awkwardly climbed into the car and thanked a complete stranger for the lift.
“It was only a few years later that I found Ash making his debut for the first team and at that time the club’s policy was to provide the new guy with a mentor before the game and ease him into the senior set-up.
“That, to my honour, was my responsibility. I was able to relax Ash with my very limited rugby knowledge but like to think I set him on the right path. Many of us have shared the pitch with Ash and seen his development.
“I played with him on another milestone occasion; his 200th cap was in April 2011 away to Coney Hill in the 27-15 win. I came off the bench for my 50th first team outing, but by then Ash had become a leader and respected by all who played with him.”
Russell toured Chile and Argentina while at Churchill School and, in April 2003, played with the Connecticut Yankees in Boston, along with Weston teammates Luke Hember, Dave Burge and Gavin Simpson, having been there the previous October.
He now surpasses wing Chris Brown’s 461 appearances made between 1967 and 1995, scoring 284 tries in the process, which is still a club record, while Russell is on 46 tries.
Like Brown, who was the captain in the 1985-86 season, Russell led the club in the 1009/10 campaign and was named Player of the Year twice, for the 2005/06 and 2008/09 seasons.
Matthews added: “Off the ball, Ash has toured and puts back into the club, coaching the juniors on Sunday morning. Taking on the role of Director of Rugby has created a different relationship with some difficult decisions at times.
“I know Ash has not agreed with me, but the mark of his quality has been his reaction and to back the club and me. None of us knows where this game will take us; the journey is different for each of us.
“In my case it has been wonderful to play a small part in Ash’s fantastic achievement. There needs to be value in everything we do. Ash is rich in the relationships he has made, with players, coaches and the club; it’s a privilege to call him mate.”
Russell and Brown are joined on the ‘400 Club’ honours board in the clubhouse by Colin Couch 1954/71 – 452, Paul Tincknell 1977/98 – 405, Andy Coker 1982/01 – 402, Paul Burgess 1971/87 – 400, Rob Hazzard 1966/87 – 400.
When Russell made his 400th first-team appearance in the Regional 1 Tribute South West away at high-flyers Camborne in October 2022, the then director of rugby, George Sparks, doubted whether many other players would reach the milestone.
Sparks said at the time: “If Ash is the last to do so, then I cannot think of a better person to join a very special group of people who have accomplished this outstanding feat.”
Launceston, the visitors on Saturday, have won seven of the previous 11 encounters and are now fourth in the Regional 1 Tribute Ale South West while Weston, who have not beaten the Cornish All Blacks since October 2022, are tenth.
Russell has played against Launceston on seven previous occasions, and in October 2019 he was one of the try scorers in the 32-13 home victory that then sent Weston to the top of the South West Premier table in the Covid-19-curtailed season.
Ashley Russell is sponsored by Effective Medical Ltd and Leadlight (South West) Ltd.
