To play in two World Cups was a dream

RUGBY started quite late for me.

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It wasn’t something that was in my family growing up, I was a swimmer and a footballer. It was in school (Hounsdown), around Year 9, when I first got involved. We had two particularly enthusiastic P.E teachers, Mr McGhee and Mr Bryant, who set me on that path, and that led to me joining my local club, Tottonians (near Southampton).

At the age of 16 I had my first big decision to make. The AASE scheme had just started up, which combined rugby with your studies. I only heard about it on a car journey home when one of the other lads was bragging about how he’d got an academy contract at London Irish. When we queried it, it actually turned out to be the AASE programme that he was on about, and London Irish said they’d be delighted for me to come as well. There was still a lot to consider as it meant moving away from home, to London, at the age of 16, and financially, my mum had to pay my boarding. It’s fair to say I matured quickly.

I was very lucky to have the coaches that I had: Neal Hatley, Giselle Mather, David Williams – all top level coaches now. Those two years at St Paul’s College and in the London Irish academy were awesome. Only two of us out of 15/16 were awarded academy contracts, so it was a fairly ruthless process. The other was Jack Moates, a No.9, who ended up playing for Wasps. We’re convinced that one thing that worked in my favour was the fact that I was the only person who’d wear an Italian jersey to training, which helped me to stand out.