Catching up with Darryl Veenendaal
Formerly from Wisbech, professional rugby player Darryl Veenendaal is not yet 30 and has already entered into coaching with
Championship side Ampthill.
Son of Wisbech director of rugby Leonard Veenendaal, his brother De La Rey Veenendaal has skippered at the Harecroft Road club, so there is plenty of family connection.
Ten years as a pro, the 29-year-old hasn’t forgotten his roots: “I’ve been helping out at Wisbech on a consultation basis since 2009, just using my experience and knowledge of the game to help them where needed,” said Darryl.
“It’s a club I have a lot of history with, having come through its mini section myself. So naturally I know most people there and a few of the lads are my close friends that I grew up with.”
He elaborated on his role at the second-tier club: “We don’t have performance targets for ourselves as coaches. There are four coaches of which two of us are also players.
“Each coach is responsible for an aspect of play. I take care of the attack side of play for the overall team as well as being responsible for the backs as a unit (attack and defence).
“Each coach and aspect of play is overseen by head coach Paul Turner.
“Post match we will evaluate how the team performed and then align the feedback with the week’s preparation to see where we can improve in our processes.”
Darryl went to Glebe House School in Hunstanton. After that he got a scholarship to Sedbergh School in Cumbria for his GCSEs before joining Oakham School in Rutland for his A-Levels “coincidentally at the same time as my younger brother was also starting there in Year 9,” he added.
Wisbech have plenty of derbies at their EC3 level, with the likes of West Norfolk and Fakenham in their division.
Meanwhile, Ampthill have nearby Bedford – who were, perhaps surprisingly, below them in the Championship table – when coronavirus suspended all fixtures.
When the two sides clash, Veenendaal described what the derby day atmosphere is like: “There is certainly a rivalry being only a few miles between the two towns. For me, being an ex-Blue, it’s very enjoyable.
“Playing in front of a sold-out Goldington Road is special, especially when you win. Bedford is a rugby town so there is definitely a buzz in the air. Ampthill is very similar but we don’t have as many supporters, being a smaller market town.”
When asked if his future plans are now to ego full-time into coaching/management, he replied: “For sure.
“Coaching is something I’m quite passionate about and I have found that after 10 years of professional rugby I’ve experienced more than most as a player and have learned that there is more than one way to skin a cat.
“I think that being a player as well, it allows me to understand the psychological side of an athlete and I can therefore cater to different personality types and tap into a player’s mentality before, during and post performances.”