The English opener or center, who arrived this season in his father's luggage, returns to the cumbersome label of “son of” which is necessarily attached to him.
It was the surprise of Racing 92's recruitment in the off-season. The Ile-de-France club has recruited Dan Lancaster, the son of the manager of the Altoséquanais club who played last season at Ealing Trailfinders, a club in the English second division (called RFU Championship). And this season, the Lancaster son played a string of matches with the Ciel et Blanc, participating in the first ten of the season (5 starts). For performances considered disappointing. His arrival at Racing, “it’s obviously not a conventional route, I completely understand that, he admitted Wednesday at a press conference before Saturday's match against Toulouse (2:30 p.m.). “There aren’t many players who have gone from the second division in England to one of the biggest clubs in Europe.”
However, the 23-year-old player, who can play as an opener or in the center, was keen to point out that he does not come out of nowhere. “Before playing for Earling, I played at Leicester, who had an incredible team and won the Premiership (in 2021-2022). I was able to learn alongside George Ford, Freddie Burns, Bryce Hegarty… I was also an international under 20… We won the U20 Six Nations Tournament. With notably scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and fly-half Fin Smith as teammates.
I'm not naive, I know people judge me because of my name and my background
And Lancaster
The fact remains that his first steps in Hauts-de-Seine (and especially Val-de-Marne since Racing relocates its matches to Créteil) did not arouse enthusiasm. Far from it. But Dan Lancaster does not read or follow what is said about him on social networks: “People have the right to have an opinion. I'm not naive, I know that people judge me because of my name and my background. I don’t look at what’s being said but I know it exists.”
Also read
Top 14: 5 things to know about the Englishman Dan Lancaster, center of Racing 92 and… son of the coach
Obviously, the first thing we say to ourselves is that he is a “son of”. And that he plays because his father, a former England and Leinster mentor, is in charge of the team. “I didn’t expect it to be any different. My father trained me in several youth categories, it's something I'm used to, but he treats me like the other players. For my part, I can distinguish the father from the coach. Here, at Racing, it’s with Fred Michalak (attack coach) that I talk a lot.”
I work very hard to earn the respect of my teammates. And I also want to have the respect of our supporters
And Lancaster
Things picked up quickly for Dan Lancaster. “I don't think it's all too fast for me, although some people think so, he confides. It's not me who selects the team. On a daily basis, I work very hard to improve myself and earn the respect of my teammates. And I also want to have the respect of our supporters. In any case, no problem of change of scenery when arriving in France. Accompanied as he is by his father (“since I was little, we only talk about rugby when we are together”) and… his mother. What makes him smile: “I’m 10 minutes from her house, so she’s happy! And she just wants her husband and son to be happy!”
