Mark Shaw = MS
John Connaughton = JC

1.MS = Full name and nickname if you have one?
JC = John George Connaughton

2.MS = How long have you been in Rugby League?
JC = For 18 years

3.MS = Who have you played for in Rugby League?
JC = Oldham Saint Annes, Saddleworth Rangers, Royton Tigers, Oldham Town Team, Trials for Lancashire, Trained with Halifax Blue Sox for 4 months.

4.MS = Do you like playing or watching?
JC = Both.

5.MS = What is your best moment in Rugby League?
JC = Watching the State of Origin Games. Best sporting games in the world.

6.MS = What is your funniest moment in Rugby League?
JC = Playing for the Post Office Open Age team when I was 16 against a Prison Wardens/Guards XIII and watching my mate (also 16) get scrag tackled. I couldn't resist rolling around on the floor laughing as he was being launched. The referee saw me and stopped the game to ask me what was wrong. I explained but I don't think he saw the funny side. I actually scored a try that day by diving through someones legs. No idea how we both came out of that game alive.

7.MS = What do you think of Rugby League in the south?
JC = I think it needs a lot more financial support and more focus needs to be on getting into schools and promoting our game in order to make it a success down here. I also think the gap between the north and south needs to be bridged and it is good that efforts in Bristol are now being rewarded.

8.MS = Why did you become a Rugby League fan?
JC = My dad took me to a Widnes v Hull game when I was very young and I was hooked from that moment. Seeing the likes of the Hulme brothers, Myler, Grimmer, Offiah, Davies etc, who wouldnt be hooked?

9.MS = How did you become the Oxford Cavaliers Club Secretary?
JC = Firstly I moved to Oxford to be with my girlfriend so that is how I ended up in the area. I then wanted to get involved with rugby league again after having a break from it at University. This is when I got in touch with Matt Walsh who invited me down to training around 4 years ago now. I have since become more and more involved as the seasons have gone on and my own personal goals have taken over giving me a more important role in the club.

10.MS = What is it like working for the Oxford Cavaliers?
JC =It can be frustrating due to player commitment but I will never give up trying to promote the game and hope to continue to build it up in the future.

11.MS = Were do you see the Oxford Cavaliers at the end of this season year?
JC = I see the Cavaliers Open Age reaching the play offs and establishing a regular Open Age side due to the hard work of new Head Coach Ian Allison and Media/Entertainments Officer Stewart Hannah's excellent promotional work in the local press.

12.MS = What would you like from the Oxford Cavaliers?
JC = Nothing.


13.MS = Do you think you can help raise the profile of the Oxford Cavaliers?
JC = Yes I do and I will try and continue to do so.



14.MS = Can you tell us 5 thinks about the Oxford Cavaliers?
JC = They are a friendly down to earth club who welcome everyone from players, coaches, supporters, sponsors and volunteers. They are looking to develop each year and hope to develop the players they get and push them as far as they can in the game.

15.MS = Is there anything you would like to say to the Club, the player and are supporter?
JC = I would like to say good luck to the players for the remainder of the season, I hope they can achieve as high a position in the league as possible and I hope to be able to come back from injury at some point before the end of the season in order to have some contribution on the field. I'd also like to say thank you to our supporters and sponsors and hope they can see what their support means to us when we give our all on the pitch.

Thank you for your time John.