Jonny Vaughan, 19, made his St Helens first-team debut in July after working his way up through the ranks since joining the club at the age of 14.
The former Rainford High and Carmel College student, from Eccleston, St Helens, used to watch Saints with his dad at the old Knowsley Road ground as a fan – and was even the mascot on a number of occasions.
He said: “I’ve got my name etched into the history books there now, I’ve got that heritage number, I’m a part of this club and that’s all I ever wanted.
“I was a season ticket holder from a very young age. We used to bring a little step with us and I would stand against the barriers and watch them play.
“I’ve walked out with Paul Wellens and Kieron Cunningham as a mascot. There’s nothing like it – playing for Saints was always a childhood dream.”
Jonny, who has captained Lancashire and England at academy level, made his Super League debut in a home match against Castleford Tigers.
And he has already clocked up minutes against Wigan, Warrington and Leigh – playing in front of more than 20,000 fans, Super League’s biggest crowd of the season, in the clash with Wigan.
Jonny said: “I’ve got a picture on my phone of me walking past the stand in the Wigan game and the Saints’ stand is absolutely packed after the game. All the other stands are empty and The Saints fans have stayed – the fans are the best.
“The atmosphere at the games is amazing, especially at our stadium. At the minute we’re struggling a bit, but when we’re at our best, and the fans are at their best, it’s a hostile environment for opposing teams.”
Sports-mad Jonny – a five-time world champion at junior kickboxing after taking up the combat sport at three years old – has played cricket at district level and represented Merseyside in athletics.
But it was his childhood love of rugby league that eventually proved to be an irresistible pull and that has been his focus since his teenage years.
So why study for a degree in law?
Jonny explained: “I love arguing. I’ve always been an argumentative person. I got the gift of the gab off my dad. It’s been interesting for me. I’ve always been interested in right and wrong and trying to resolve things and getting the right result for the world.
“The idea was to go on and become a barrister. The likelihood of that happening now if rugby is going to be full time is very slim but I think it’s good to have a prestigious degree to fall back on when I’m 36, 37.”
Jonny, who is contracted at Saints until 2025, also recognised that a physical sport such as rugby comes with risk, adding: “You’re one bad tackle or one injury away from not playing again and that’s the risk we take as athletes every day.”
Training and playing full-time for St Helens as well as studying LLB (Hons) Law has meant a hectic schedule for Jonny with long days beginning in the gym and ending in the library at Edge Hill – sometimes still wearing his Saints’ training kit.
Jonny hailed Blackboard – the University’s online learning platform – as invaluable because he has been able to catch up on missed lectures.
He added: “I’ve been supported throughout and my personal tutor has been amazing. I’ve always made it clear with St Helens that regardless of where my contract takes me or whatever money I’m paid, university’s got to come first, I’ve got to complete it. It’s one of those things that I’ve always wanted to do. I always wanted a degree.”
Looking to the immediate future, Jonny says he wants to establish himself in the Saints side, work his way to captaining club and country, and perhaps one day compete in the National Rugby League in Australia.
And with a steely determination that has already established him as a high achiever, who would bet against him?
Jonny added: “I think I was born with this competitiveness, whether it was a spelling test at school or it was a world championship final. I wanted to win and that’s always been my way and I think that’s what sometimes can be a leverage in the professional world.
“It wouldn’t be me if I took the easy option. I want to keep pushing and never get comfortable.”
As Clive Tyldesley once said of Wayne Rooney: Remember the name.
August 5, 2024
