Launceston RC

Whether you know him as Levent, Fred, Turkish – or something else – Mr Bulut is a total legend at Launceston Rugby Club. He has now put on and very much honoured the black jersey no less than 200 times which is an amazing feat in anyone’s book.

We want to say thank you to Fred for his incredible dedication to the Cornish All Blacks, his club and the supporters. So you can find a little more about how he ticks we sent him a Q&A and to his real credit he gave us his answers.

1. When did you play your first Senior game? I played for the “development squad” which was the second team, first year out of colts 2009.
2. What was your fist game for CABs? I made my 1^st team debut against Redruth at home back in 2013.
3. What did you find most pleasing about your first CABs game? The honour and pride to represent my family and town in the biggest derby at the time in Cornwall. 
4. Who in the Club did you look up to as a Mini Junior player? I was fortunate enough to have some great coaches going through the mini juniors. Dave Pooley, the Doc started the inspiration to be dedicated and focused on your role. Then the legend, Jimmy Tucker, coached us at colts and instilled some fundamental/core values that I stand by now. He poured the love and honour of representing the Launceston Rugby Club out every time he coached or spoke to us. 
5. Which was your best display for CABs? There aren’t too many games that I remember as standouts. But big games that I’ve been part of that really stand out, under 19s colts cup final against Redruth and winning it at Polson Bridge, making my debut against Redruth 1st team, the game against Salisbury that we broke that dreadful season long losing streak, the promotion game (that was a whirlwind of emotion that day) and the Papa Johns final at Six Ways. 
6. Who inspired you when you first got into the CABs team on a permanent basis? Jimmy Tucker and Dave Risdon. Jimmy when taking charge of the 1st team made it clear that I had to honour the shirt and take the shirt on from the previous owners and take it to a better place. So, Dave was an inspiration because when a mini junior and colt I watched the 1st with him in it. The way he gave literally everything on the pitch for the club and how he played inspired/s me to this day. Jimmy for his legendary status at club and county level, like I said above I was fortunate to be coached by him as a colt but then in the senior 1st team too. He came in when the club was in a spot of trouble. He stood for the core values that he believed in and what the club should look to adopt. And thanks to him and some strong board members at the time, the club is in a far better place regarding growing local and home grown talent, connecting the town with the club and instilling the honour to play for Launceston Rugby Club again.  
7. Who is your favourite professional player of all time?Jonah Lomu - he transformed rugby.
8. What is the most satisfying rugby experience you have had at Polson? That promotion game or the under 19 cup final are the two that are right up there. Under 19s for the togetherness and team cohesion at the start of my rugby career with some of my best friends to this day, is something difficult to top. Promotion game was just electric in the second half especially when the crowd roared, spurring us on to get the win. 
9. How do you keep going week after week and by and large staying fit? Week on week set mini targets that I want to achieve in the next game. Social element to training and playing games. But the desire to represent my family in the town and club I love is the real driving force. 
10. What do you think is special about the Club at Launceston? The connection from the mini juniors, seniors and supporters - that’s what makes it special.

               Levent Bulut

The picture is from a Facebook Celebration post which will slip down the list. Scroll down to find the post and see all the great comments from the people who know Fred best and appreciate all he does for the Club at Launceston and the Cornish All Blacks.