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Tom Horton was seemingly a young man with a bright future when he was named in one of Dave Rennie’s first Wallabies squads in 2020.
It was quite the rise for an exciting hooker in the Dane Coles-mould, who had many, including two-time World Cup winner Phil Kearns, excited.
But after several frustrating injuries, form lapses and the return of a former Test starter in Tolu Latu, the burgeoning rake found himself without a contract at the Waratahs following last year’s Super Rugby season.
It was a frustrating blow for a young man with bucketloads of potential.
From the anguish though a short-term contract with English premiership champions Leicester Tigers under Steve Borthwick appeared. It was an offer too good to be true.
“Leicester obviously had a few injuries at hooker and Julian Montoya was away with Argentina utill pretty much Christmas,” Horton told The Roar.
“I went over there in August towards the end of preseason and finished up in December and it was a great experience.”
Tom Horton was included in Dave Rennie’s first Wallabies squad but quickly found himself on the outer. Photo: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
Horton described the unique experience of learning under Borthwick, who was quickly thrust into the English coaching job after the Rugby Football Union sacked Eddie Jones, as well as Leigh Jones as “eye-opening”.
“I did a lot of one-on-one stuff with Leigh, he pretty much fixed my throw,” Horton said.
“Steve around all the forward play, the set piece, mauls, all the forward play was some of the best coaching I’ve had.
“He just demanded so much from the players, which is an awesome thing. Everyone wanted to work for him. It was a really good forward pack to be a part of.
“I think his attention to detail, not just with his expertise, with everything in general, was second to none. The amount of work he put in with pretty much every player in the squad was eye-opening to see.”
Horton’s Achilles heel, which is shared by the majority of Australia’s hookers, was his throw.
So what changed?
“I think before I was only throwing with my arms, so anything further than 10 metres was a bit of a lottery,” he said.
“Leigh got me to start using my core and my feet to get the power, not to just rely on my arms. It’s just made it so much easier to throw.
“Using different parts of our body has really helped, especially with the accuracy of it. It’s still not quite there, but it’s getting there.”
Tom Horton says Steve Borthwick provided him an “eye-opening” experience at Leicester Tigers. Photo Paul Harding/Getty Images
Horton played less than a handful of games for the Tigers, but said the experience, including playing in front of 14,000 fans for a mid-week match at Welford Road, was still more than worthwhile.
Would he go back?
“I don’t know if I’d go back to the prem,” Horton said. “I don’t know if I’m that suited to that style of footy. It’s a lot bigger bodies in the forward pack. I prefer the speed of Super Rugby.
“The English comp is pretty long. I got out just in time before it got too cold.”
He has since landed on his feet at the Western Force, linking back with Simon Cron who he played under in 2017 in an Oceania tournament.
Quickly he has become a mainstay in the side too, especially with Folau Fainga’a battling Achilles soreness.
With Fainga’a heading to France next season, the Force are keen to extend Horton’s stay in Perth.
All Blacks star Dane Coles talks to Tom Horton on April 02, 2023 in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
They’re not the interested party either, with the Waratahs watching Horton’s progress too.
“I’m sort of not really looking at next year yet,” Horton said.
“I’m just sort of trying to just keep playing footy, string some more games together, and then just see what happens.
“I’m sort of quite happy at the moment just playing every week, training with the boys.
“I’m not really focusing on next year yet. In the past it weighs on your mind and then it can affect performance.”
More pressing is getting bragging rights against his former side, the Waratahs, on Saturday evening.
“It’ll be a pretty weird feeling, but I can’t wait to get out there,” Horton said.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.