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Getting to Know: England U20s lock Junior Kpoku
By Liam Heagney
One of the highlights so far in Embedded, the RugbyPass TV behind-the-scenes series on the England team at the World Rugby U20 Championship, has been Junior Kpoku taking a call in a Cape Town barber shop from Siya Kolisi, the doble-winning Springboks Rugby World Cup captain.
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Kpoku was given a dice roll as an in-camp forfeit and rolling a six meant dying his hair or getting a buzz. The upside was that while in the chair at the barbers, Kolisi, his Racing 92 teammate, checked in on him.
The 18-year-old teenage giant joined the Parisians last autumn from Exeter Chiefs and aside from going on to make a Top 14 debut in February, he has also been busy keeping his hand in with the England age-grade set-up and is looking to add a Championship title in South Africa to the Six Nations glory that was clinched in March.
Mark Mapletoft’s side are currently two wins from two in Pool C and ahead of facing the Junior Boks in Athlone on Tuesday, Kpoku tackled the RugbyPass Getting to Know Q&A:
THE BASICS
Born: 10 September, 2005;
Joined England age-grade: Age 17 last year;
Club: Racing 92;
Position: Second row;
Height: 6ft 7;
Weight: 121kgs;
Boots: Adidas, don’t know what they are called;
Gumshield: The England rugby ones;
Headgear: No.
School: Finborough School.
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RATE YOURSELF (out of 100)
Pace: 70;
Passing: 85;
Tackling: 90.
THE PAST
My favourite England player of all time is… I like Maro (Itoje);
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Favourite try I have ever scored is… Last year U18, England against South Africa;
A rugby memory that makes me smile is… Signing my first professional contract at Exeter Chiefs;
The moment I realised I could make it is… Making my debut for Exeter against Bristol;
One piece of advice I would give to my younger self is… Work much harder;
My best subject in school was… PE;
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The first player who made me fall in love with rugby is… My brothers, both of them;
Growing up, my position was… Always lock;
The coach who has most impacted my game is… Dave Roberts, who invited me to London Skolars.
Sights set on game three ?
Your England U20 Men’s team to face @SAJuniorRugby in the third and final #WorldRugbyU20s pool stage match ??
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 7, 2024
THE PRESENT
My best attributes on the field are… My energy, my tackling and my hunger;
One thing I’m doing to improve my education is… I’m going to start uni next year, doing sports science in Paris;
My favourite current England player is… Maro (Itoje);
My favourite YouTuber is… No, not really;
My hardest working teammate is… Ben Redshaw;
My most skilful teammate is… Henry Pollock;
My favourite training drill is… Race north, a little raining drill we do with Haydn (Thomas) where we set, then we fold around and just fly. It’s a straight run;
My favourite music artist is… Central Cee.
THE FUTURE
A player who could go all the way is… Ben Redshaw;
If I could play with anyone, I would like to play with… That’s a hard one, a hard one. Owen Farrell in the England shirt;
I will be happy with my career if I… Start playing more first-team games next year;
If I could play in any other country, I would play in… Not really. Just France;
One thing I want to add to my game is… How many involvements I can get in a game, that could be in tackling, rucking, carrying, whatever.
One person I want to meet is… Michael B Jordan;
One trophy I would love to win is… The World Cup.
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