Andrew James Kalen Daish (born 6 September 1984) is a

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rugby union player of

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

parentage. As well as playing for

Old Albanian Albanian (endonym: or ) is an Indo-European language and an independent branch of that family of languages. It is spoken by the Albanians in the Balkans and by the Albanian diaspora, which is generally concentrated in the Americas, Europe a ...

as part of the back row

Rugby Union Career

Youth career

Andrew was born in Welwyn Garden City,

Hertfordshire, England Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

. He started playing rugby union at the age of six for

, based in

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...

, and represented

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

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.

Club career

Andrew's introduction to senior rugby began at London Welsh, then in

National Division One The RFU Championship is an English rugby union competition comprising twelve clubs. It is the second level of men’s English rugby and is played by both professional and semi-professional players. The competition has existed since 1987, when ...

, for the 2005-06 season, while studying at

London South Bank University London South Bank University (LSBU) is a public university in Elephant and Castle, London. It is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name. Founded in 1892 as the Borough P ...

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 The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingha ...

. At this time he was recommended to local side,

Pertemps Bees There have been three rugby clubs, each one a separate legal entity, that have borne the ‘Birmingham & Solihull’ name: ◆ Birmingham & Solihull Rugby Football Club Ltd ('the first club'), founded in 1989 -as an industrial and provident ...

, also playing in National Division One and he was made part of their squad for the 2007-08 season. 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. 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 National One (last season known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Leag ...

. 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 The 2008-09 National Division Two was the ninth and final version (twenty second overall) of the third division of the English rugby union league system using the name National Division Two. The RFU was planning to introduced a new professionali ...

as league champions, spending part of the season in National Division 3 South with

Rugby Lions The Rugby Lions, nicknamed The Lions, is an English rugby union club based in Rugby, Warwickshire. The club plays its home matches at Webb Ellis Road. Its developmental squad is known as the Crusaders. The club also has a ladies team known a ...

. 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. After several disappointing seasons, Andrew decided to move back to Hertfordshire, dropping down a division to

National League 2 South National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, N ...

to play for his youth club,

. 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 The 2011–12 National League 2 South was the third season (25th overall) of the fourth tier (south) of the English domestic rugby union competitions since the professionalised format of the second division was introduced. The league system was ...

league title ahead of fancied

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and promotion to

National League 1 National One (last season known as National League 1 and previously known before September 2009 as National Division Two), is the third of three national leagues in the domestic rugby union competition of England. It was known as Courage Leagu ...

- the highest division the club have played in since they entered the league system. 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 Rugby has been played in Sweden since 1933, the first full international being played in 1949 against Denmark. The country celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2008. Sweden has been a member union of World Rugby since 1988 and is one of the 48 me ...

having been made eligible by his grandfather. 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 European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...

after they won the second division title.

Honours

Pertemps Bees *Pertemps Bees fans 'Most Promising Player Award': 2008-09 *Birmingham Post Midland Select XV: 2008-09 *Part of squad that were

champions: 2009-10 Old Albanian *

champions: 2011-12 Sweden *

European Nations Cup Second Division European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...

champions:

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daish, Andrew 1984 births Living people Alumni of the University of Birmingham Birmingham & Solihull R.F.C. players Rugby union players from Welwyn Garden City Swedish rugby union players Welsh emigrants to Sweden