Andrew Daish

Andrew James Kalen Daish (born 6 September 1984) is a Swedish rugby union player of Welsh parentage. As well as playing for Old Albanian as part of the back row

Andrew Kalen Daish

Birth name	Andrew James Kalen Daish
Date of birth	(1984-09-06) September 6, 1984
Place of birth	Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire England
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 ^1⁄2 in)
Weight	98 kg (216 lb)
School	Verulam School, St Albans
University	London South Bank University Birmingham University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Back Row Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Old Albanian RFC () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2005-07 2007-09 2008-09 2009-10 2010- London Welsh Pertemps Bees Rugby Lions (loan) Nuneaton Old Albanian 8 31 1 14 102 (10) (45) (0) (5) (185) Correct as of 25 April 2015 National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2009- Sweden 30 (35) Correct as of 14 December 2015 National sevens team(s) Years Team Comps 2009-2013 Sweden FIRA 7s

Rugby Union Career

Youth career

Andrew was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England. He started playing rugby union at the age of six for Old Albanian, based in St Albans, and represented Hertfordshire at U12, U14, U16 and U17 level. He also represented London and South East Division at U16, Wales Youth (U18), Wales Schools (U18), Wales U19 and was captain of his school side at Verulam School, St Albans.[1][2][3]

Club career

Andrew's introduction to senior rugby began at London Welsh, then in National Division One, for the 2005-06 season, while studying at London South Bank University for a degree in Sports and Exercise Science. He spent two seasons at Welsh where he was a fringe player and upon successful completion of his degree, he gained a place to study for a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Birmingham University. At this time he was recommended to local side, Pertemps Bees, also playing in National Division One and he was made part of their squad for the 2007-08 season.[4]

In his debut season with the Bees Andrew had far more opportunities than with his previous club, making 25 league appearances, winning the fans’ most promising player award, as well as being the leading try scorer at the club with eight tries and was also named in the Birmingham Post's Midland Select XV.[5][6] Unfortunately, his performances and tries were not enough to keep the Bees up and the side were relegated at the end of the season, dropping to National Division Two.[7] The next season was not so successful for Andrew as he was unable to break into the Pertemps Bees first team and had limited opportunities in a side that claimed promotion from the 2008–09 National Division Two as league champions, spending part of the season in National Division 3 South with Rugby Lions. Due to a lack of games at the Bees, Andrew moved across the Midlands to nearby Nuneaton who had just gained promotion to National Division Two for the 2009-10 season. He failed to make much impact at the Nuns, making only 14 appearances (half of which were from the bench), as the club failed to stay in the division and were relegated by the end of the season.[5][8]

After several disappointing seasons, Andrew decided to move back to Hertfordshire, dropping down a division to National League 2 South to play for his youth club, Old Albanian. He had a good first season with the St Albans club, becoming a regular in the newly promoted side and helping them to a very respectable 6th place in the league for the 2010-11 season. The next year was even better as Andrew had the best season of his career so far, finishing as the club's top scorer (and one of the league's best) with 23 tries, propelling Old O's to the 2011–12 National League 2 South league title ahead of fancied Richmond and promotion to National League 1 - the highest division the club have played in since they entered the league system.[9][10] Andrew has become a regular at Old Albanian, who after several years in National League 1 were relegated at the end of the 2014-15 season, returning to National League 2 South.

International career

Although he started his international career at youth level for Wales, Andrew has since represented the Sweden National Rugby Union Team having been made eligible by his grandfather.[11] He has been capped 20 times with 7 tries as of 2015 and he also has captained the sevens side. In 2012 he helped the country to gain promotion to European Nations Cup First Division after they won the second division title.[12]

Honours

Pertemps Bees

• Pertemps Bees fans 'Most Promising Player Award': 2008-09
• Birmingham Post Midland Select XV: 2008-09
• Part of squad that were National Division Two champions: 2009-10

Old Albanian

• National League 2 South champions: 2011-12

Sweden

• European Nations Cup Second Division champions: 2012

References

1. "London Welsh Reunited". charlieevansrugby.tripod.com. 11 March 2008.
2. "Selectors pleased with Youth talent". Wales Online. 28 December 2001.
3. "January 2013 - Old Verulamian Association" (PDF). Old Verulamian Association. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
4. "Welsh regions transfers 2006/7". BBC News. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
5. "Andrew Daish Record by competition". Rugby Statbunker. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
6. "Brian Dick: My Midlands rugby Select XV of the season". Birmingham Post. 30 March 2008.
7. "Hollow win as Pertemps Bees are relegated". Birmingham Post. 28 April 2008.
8. "Nuns aiming to go out with heads held high". Coventry Telegraph. 16 April 2010.
9. "National Two South 11/12 Leading try scorers". Rugby Statbunker. 28 April 2012.
10. "Old Albanian are the champions!". Welwyn Hatfield Times. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
11. "Daish enjoying the Swedish experience". The Herts Advertiser. 11 November 2010.
12. "2010-12 - European Nations Cup". Rugby Europe. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.

External links