Since May of 2004 Paj has been with us here on the Fern, and we have followed his journeys back from Mother England to the farmlands of the Hawke's Bay.  Sort of like watching the comic strips Footrot Flats if Wal had headed to London at some stage...  Wal, ahhhh, I mean Paj has come home and found his Cheeky Hobson.  Yet another of the former brains trust members on the forum.

Forum member number 845.

Describe yourself in 25 words or less:  Generous, a thinker, passionate, friendly, emotional and a practical joker. My left nut hangs lower than my right one.

What international rugby team do you support and why?  All Blacks. I’m a born and bred Kiwi…simple really. I have a soft spot for Scotland due to breeding.

What Super 14 team do you support and why? Hurricanes. I’m from Hawke's Bay and we are in the Cane’s catchment area. I travel to at least one home game a year.

What's the biggest challenge facing rugby? Soccer mums. Kid’s now are being wrapped in cotton wool. If it looks like rain they get dropped off to school. Back in my day we either walked or biked to and from school even if there was a gale force hurricane warning. As soon as they abolished the cane in schools was the day we lost the fight against discipline. Money has also taken it’s toll on the game, there are no more “Tours”, the mid week games then the Test in between all because it doesn’t pay the bills.

Who was the game's greatest ever player?  Michael Jones. Legend, a freak and a natural athlete. Christian Cullen is a close second, I watch some of his tries and am truly amazed. 

How about non-NZ players? Who were/are the greatest? Martin Johnson. Not flash, not overly skillful but has the heart of a horse. A bloke you would stand next to in the trench and follow over the top. Keith Wood is another who I admired, gutsy and hard.

The best match you have ever seen?  New Zealand V England 99 World Cup. Was at the game in section of crowd where myself and mate were the only Kiwi’s. 15 all and a Mr J. Lomu runs down sideline and scores. Never will I forget that feeling.

The best try you have ever seen?  Cullen V Australia. A Zinzan Brooke take of a high ball and a long pass to Cullen who zig zagged through the field and scored. My draw drops every time and I could watch that time and time again.

What position did you play, if you played, in rugby?  Tighthead Prop. Hooker at school and early Colts and Senior rugby until I lost the fight against gravity and takeaways. Fancied myself as a Blindside Flanker for a season.

What do you like about the Silverfern? It weeds out idiots, has very bright posters and a few, like myself, who aren’t blessed in the brain gene’s but can all discuss sport and have a common goal of passion for a game. Everyone has an opinion, and it doesn’t’ fester into all out brawls, and there are some fantastic individuals coming together to make a awesome community.   

How could the site be improved? Maybe getting more exposure to a bigger audience and having guest writers in. But that could also be way the fern is special because of how people stumble across the place and stay.

Who's your favourite poster? Don’t have a favourite as such. Redbeard I can relate to as a front rower, Bartman as he is blunt and to the point. Taniwharugby for his passion to Provincial rugby. Hooroo for his passion, Duluth for his debating and memory, hell the list could go on and on.

Who's the worst poster? There’s a couple that rub me up the wrong way by posting on every thread with stuff that doesn’t add to the topic.

How did you pick your user name? Initials of name, boring as batshit.

How could the game of rugby be improved? Getting the bloke off the street or from the fern and getting them into the structure on the RFU and tell them what needs to happen. Bring back Tours, don’t add to the already mundane games of the over exposed play each other 5 times a year Tri Nations. We now build towards the World Cup and every thing is focused around it which has ruined the game. The traditions need to be refreshed, like the Ranfurly Shield.

What rugby player would you turn gay for?  Bobby Skinstad always gave me a semi.

Non-rugby questions now:

Favourite music?  Matchbox20 and Van Morrison

Favourite book?  Chicken Hawk.

Favourite Film?   Saving Private Ryan

Biggest lifetime regret?  Giving away a ticket to see Sarah McLaughlan in Auckland. Not getting as fit as I should have when playing Senior rugby in Gisborne. Not travelling through Africa when I had the opportunity. Only half hearted learnt the guitar and gave up cause fingers to fat to do power cords.

Greatest hope? A happy and healthy life for my family, and to win the lottery, enough to buy a couple of thousand acres of prime sheep and beef land in Hawke's Bay.

Dream XV? O Brown, K Wood, C Haymen, M Johnson © R Brooke M Jones R McCaw W Shelford G Bachop A Merterns, J Kirwan T Horan, F Bunce, J Lomu, C Cullan.