Back
Daniel Elcock
6
Appearances
0
Points scored
402WonDrawnLost
Biography
This week’s player feature shines a light on one of Selby’s own — second row and back row stalwart Dan Elcock, a product of the club’s junior system who first pulled on a Selby shirt at Under 13s. Eleven years on from starting his rugby journey, Dan has become a familiar figure in the squad, easily recognised by his self-proclaimed “slightly average mullet” and his trademark blend of graft, physicality, and quiet humour.Dan’s earliest and fondest rugby memories go back to touring Newcastle as a junior, but few moments top the pride of lining up in the second row alongside his dad — something he describes as his favourite experience in a Selby shirt. Rugby has always been a family affair for him, and it’s no surprise that the thing he values most about Selby RUFC is exactly that: the family atmosphere that runs through every team, age group, and corner of the club.
Matchdays for Dan start in a less traditional way — with a can of White Monster — before he gets stuck into the physical side of the game. Influenced early on by the likes of Courtney Lawes, Dan grew up wanting to play with the same power and presence. And if there’s one piece of advice that has stuck with him, it’s the direct, no-nonsense instruction from a coach: “Stop being nice and run hard.” Simple, but effective.
Around the club, Dan is known for his honesty and personality. He admits he probably takes the longest to get changed after a game, and he’s more than happy to call out teammates too — naming Wurzel as the biggest joker (“annoys us as much as the opposition”), Tunners as the man he least wants to meet in tackle practice, and George Swaine as the unquestioned DJ of the dressing room.
Off the pitch, his go-to after-training meal is the classic “sausage and chips,” and when Saturday night rolls around, you’ll likely hear Dan belting out ‘Careless Whisper’ on karaoke. If he could swap places with anyone for a day, he’d pick Dan Reid, purely to enjoy what it’s like to have actual pace. And when it comes to planning a night out, he’s placing his trust in Harrison Green, not Frenchie — “definitely not Frenchie.”
Looking back, Dan credits Dan Heath as a major influence during his early rugby years. If he could offer advice to young players now, he keeps it simple: “Enjoy it and take any opportunity to play.” And if he could give his younger self one message before stepping onto the field for the very first time, it would be equally straightforward — “Don’t drop the ball.”
Asked who would survive the longest if the entire team were stranded on an island, Dan doesn’t hesitate: “We’d all be hopeless.” Maybe so, but on the rugby pitch, Selby are glad to have him — hardworking, humble, and very much part of the family.
Being part of the Selby family?
For Dan, the answer is short and sincere: “Everything.”
Team Sponsors
