The 6'4" tighthead signed for Gloucester from London Irish in the summer of 2023, just a month before helping his country claim the World Rugby U20 Championship title. The Cherry and Whites faithful suspect it’s only a matter of time before he makes his mark at senior international level.
What’s life like in Gloucester?
I like it. It’s got a sense of community, and you see that on game day. The fans show up every week with a lot of energy. They love it. Kingsholm is always bouncing.
What type of coffee do you drink?
Bit of a weird one. I’m not an avid coffee drinker, but my coffee of choice would be a caramel frappuccino. I get a little bit of stick for it. It tastes nice, though, and it’s got coffee in it. It still does the same job.
And as a prop you need to get the calories in, right?
That’s what I tell myself!
What do you love about your position?
Scrum time is something that I’ve always been excited for. It’s deep-rooted, like it’s your moment. All the boys are hyping you up, and you get the opportunity to display some dominance or just do the job.
What would it surprise people to learn about you?
How late I started rugby compared to most players I know. I was playing football up until the age of 13.
That must have been quite a big physical transformation.
There was a point where I fell in love with the gym and spent a lot of time there. I wasn’t in an academy at that point, it was just me by myself. Chicken and rice, pasta and chicken, and the gym was pretty much it!
Would you like to go back and play football one day? 100%. Football and basketball. If I ever did get the opportunity to play for fun, with enough people to play an actual game, I would snap it up immediately.
Who would play you in a biopic of your life?
I’ve been told by some of the boys that in certain photos I look like 50 Cent. It’s funny because in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ [the biopic of 50 Cent’s life], he left what he was doing to pursue a career in rap, and it would be similar with me leaving football for rugby.
Which player do you wish you could have played alongside?
Bit of a rogue one, but Sebastien Chabal. Growing up, I used to watch all his highlights on YouTube when I was switching as well – like he did between second row and eight. I just think he was phenomenal in both attack and defence. Big, nasty forward. I did start rugby late, but when I did I’d sit for hours on pages like Andrew Forde’s, just watching highlights reels of players from whenever, and Chabal was the one who stood out for me.
And who would you never want to play against?
Cheslin Kolbe. His ability to make something out of nothing and how he humiliates defenders is just something that’s very impressive.
What series are you watching?
I’m not a big series watcher. The only person who can get me to watch a series is my younger brother. Whenever I go home to see the family he will always get me hooked on a series. I’ll be reluctant at first, but we sit down, catch up, it will be on in the background and slowly I’m hooked. The most recent one he put me on, a year or so ago, was Umbrella Academy. It was really good.
Is there a film that you feel is overrated?
I’m going to get a lot of stick for this, especially from the boys I used to live with, but I’m going to go with High School Musical. Don’t waste your time on it. My housemates at London Irish learnt a couple of the dances. I decided to opt out. It really wasn’t for me.
What’s your favourite book?
Something I read growing up: The Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell. I loved it as a kid.
Favourite style of music?
Rap. I’m listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar and Lil Baby at the moment.
How would you picture your perfect day off?
Get up early to get any recovery or treatment that I need done and out of the way. Then I’d go out with the boys or my girlfriend to do an activity or for a coffee or a meal, and then if there’s any rugby I’d give it a watch. If not, just enjoy some time on my PlayStation.
What’s on your bucket list?
Three things off the top of my head: 1) Ski, because I didn’t get to do it before I started rugby, and I can’t do it now. 2) Skydive. 3) Scuba dive.
Which of your teammates would you take backpacking?
A past teammate, Ollie Allan. We played together with England U20 and London Irish. I’d definitely take him wherever I went. He’s one of my best mates and he’s good company. He’s with Leicester Tigers now.
