BOURNEMOUTH lock Harry Leadbeater does not make a habit of talking to strangers who wind down their car window.
But when walking home from the gym one day last summer, a chance meeting with Bournemouth Director Of Rugby Will Croker paid dividends.
Leadbeater has provided vital possession by ruling the skies with stolen opposition ball, and the new ‘lord of the lineout’ dedicated his success to former club Dorset Dockers.
The 24-year-old said: “I’m from Bournemouth originally but I was walking back to my house from the gym in the summer and the school which Will’s kids go to is at the end of my road.
“It just so happened I was walking back and this car pulled over and wound down the window and he said ‘I think we should have a chat’ and I was like ‘what’s going on? This is a bit dodgy.’
“But he then introduced himself to me and we had a chat and he more than encouraged me to come and better my rugby.
“He had been talking to Tim Flower - the chairman of the Dorset Dockers - who kindly said ‘he could be good enough to play at a higher level.’

“So it all came from me just walking home from the gym one day and I just saw his car drive past me and he pulled over which got me a bit freaked out but then it was all good.”
Leadbeater has a habit of making the most of an opportunity having been parachuted into the side on Saturday in the absence of injured regular second row Ben Roberts.
But far from basking in the glory of a fallen team-mate, the level-headed lock is the first person to thank the people who have given him this opportunity.
Leadbeater added: “Dorset Dockers are a club which I still love and I cherish the years I was there but they were the ones who pushed me to go to Bournemouth - so they have pushed me to a higher standard at Bournemouth.
“It was nice to see Tim Flower on the sidelines at the game on Saturday who is chairman of The Dockers so it is nice to still feel the love for them and it is nice to get some cross club love.”