Pope expecting to play a major role in a highly eventful month

AUSTIN Pope and his partner, Izzie, are expecting a baby any minute, but the inside centre has shown his commitment to Bishop’s Stortford in recent weeks by continuing to start matches.

- BEN JAYCOCK

The 24-year-old has been at Stortford throughout his career, and even used to help sort kit on matchdays when his father, Steve, was head coach.

Pope has enjoyed his mini paternity break away from the club, but is desperate to help his beloved Stortford break into the top four.

He told The Rugby Paper: “It’s a really exciting time for Izzie and I expecting our little boy at the start of this month. We spend a lot of time at the club and have our best mates there, so the break week came at a perfect time to relax.

“Hopefully, I won’t have to miss a game but some things are more important than rugby.