Ambition is still brewing inside Rotherham Titans newcomer Max Green

COMMITED: Max Green in action against Rosslyn Park. Picture by GARETH SIDDONS

A DROP into National One to play for Rotherham is anything but small beer for newcomer Max Green.

During the week Max helps out his dad, who runs a few pubs in Bradford, before pulling on his rugby boots to play for the Titans.

It’s a different life to that of a full-time pro at Premiership Harlequins, where he was understudy to England international Danny Care last season.

But the 28-year-old scrum-half has found a work-life balance that suits him.

Rotherham Titans' director of rugby Harvey Biljon

“It wasn’t a tough decision to come to Rotherham,” said Green.

“Last year’s contract at Harlequins was a funny one. I went there initially as Danny Care’s cover while he was away at the World Cup and then it got extended and it got extended.

“There was nothing ever promised at the end of it so I knew my time there was up. I didn’t have a club.

“I was desperately looking for another club so I could stay in the Premiership but sometimes you have to suck it up and realise that being with family and things like that is important.

“I was back home in Bradford, living with the missus there and the family is virtually around the corner.

“It’s nice to be back up north. I’ve been living up here about eight years now.”

Green’s CV includes time at Yorkshire Carnegie, Bath, Bristol and Jersey, where he worked Harvey Biljon, now Rotherham’s director of rugby.

While Green has dropped two rungs of the league ladder to come to South Yorkshire, that doesn’t mean rugby ambitions don’t still burn inside him alongside his day work.

“Dad has three pubs in Bradford so I’m doing bits and bobs there at the moment and trying to take the load off him a bit,” he added.

“Do I still have the bit between my teeth? Of course.

“Everyone does here. Some have played in the Prem Cup and the Premiership and they’ve got decent caps.

“They know how to control the game in certain areas. It's a squad full of really good rugby players.

“I remember when Rotherham were in the Championship. They used to be top four and it was a tough place to come and play.

“This club has aspirations where it wants to be and if we get Roth into the Championship again then that would be amazing.”