RISING STARS

JOE DAVIS - AGE 19 (31 DEC 2005) // BORN DURHAM // POSITION SCRUM-HALF // CLUB NEWCASTLE RED BULLS // COUNTRY ENGLAND

- JOE HARVEY & JOE ROBINSON

How did you get into rugby? I'd have been seven or eight years old. My dad was playing, so got me to try my hand at it by taking me to Bishop Auckland rugby club. I played all my youth rugby there until I moved to Barnard Castle School in Year Nine.

Why did you choose to play rugby? The old man played and where I lived, it was the big sport. Before I played, we'd be down watching the senior side too.

Did you play any other sports growing up? Yeah, I played a lot of cricket. I was half-decent. I batted at the top of the order. I played for County Durham and the North of England. I had to make a decision between rugby and cricket a few years ago.

What positions do you play? I'm just a scrumhalf. Not big enough for anywhere else!

When was your first rep game for England? It was March 2024, the year I left school. I turned out for the U18s in France. We got battered but it was a mint experience and I absolutely loved it! It was just outside Lyon. There were 6,000 French fans in the crowd and it was hostile, I loved it.

Who was your hero growing up? I watched a lot of Danny Care and Aaron Smith. Especially Danny, so it was amazing to play on the same pitch as him last season. I watched him play at a World Cup; next thing you're chatting to him at a scrum.

Describe your playing style... Quite high tempo and quick. Anything that can keep the coaches happy and get me on the team sheet!

Biggest strength? I'd say my passing. It has always been a key asset of mine and something I worked on a lot with Lee Dickson at school. He was our head of rugby, which was handy as a nine! We did weekly sessions. It's what got me opportunities with Newcastle last season.