INSIDE YOUR FAB MONDAY SPORT PULLOUT
Can young Welsh ace make his mark with England’s top club?
THERE was an almost wistful air about the social media post Christ Tshiunza put out at the start of the Covid-19 lockdown. “Not quite the way things were supposed to end,” the teenager tweeted as his time at Whitchurch High School came to an abrupt, virus-enforced end.
“Whitchurch, it’s been a pleasure.
“Owe a lot of my achievements to @WhitchurchPE and @WHS-_Rugby.”
Unless this writer is missing something, that’s a classy way to sign off as a schoolboy, with a generous nod to those who’ve helped him on his journey so far and a hint of how much the 18-year-old enjoyed his days at the educational establishment that Gareth Bale, Sam Warburton and Geraint Thomas passed through.
He is an interesting young man is Christ Tshiunza.
Where do we start?
First, with the name, perhaps: it’s more than a bit unusual in these parts, but his pals refer to him simply as “Chris”.
His surname
“Chinza”.
Next, his background. Born into what he describes as a ‘French is pronounced
Christian family’, he lived in the Congo until he was six, with the said family settling in England initially and moving to Wales in 2010.
It didn’t take long for his rugby ability to set him apart.
A SOUGHT-AFTER TALENT Towering over his team-mates with various Rhiwbina age-grade and Cardiff Schools sides, Tshiunza quickly became a player to watch, packing down at lock and using his commanding height to dominate lineouts.
The 6ft 6in forward played for Wales U18s at the age of 17 and hit the headlines last year when he committed to a four-year deal with Exeter Chiefs, arguably now England’s leading side. He starts there next season.
The BBC subsequently described him as “one of the most sought-after teenage properties in British rugby”.
The good news for Welsh rugby supporters is that despite reportedly being eligible for England and France, Tshiunza is keen to eventually make the senior Wales set-up, saying last year: “It’s a bit ambitious but I would like to be in the team for the next World Cup.”
Some will raise eyebrows at such a statement.
But when an individual has ability, it is pretty much always accompanied by ambition.
Cut to Dan Biggar in the autumn of 2008, with a reporter asking about his desire to play for Wales sooner rather than later. Never short on self-belief or drive, the flyhalf could scarcely believe the question. Of course he’d be up for a shot at playing for Wales – today, if possible; at the very latest tomorrow.
Anything else was time wasted. So let’s be positive and acclaim such ambition.
CHARACTER IS DESTINY
But no-one should believe Tshiunza is dreaming dreams above his station.
“He’s one of the most humble young men you could wish to meet,” says Derwyn Jones, his agent and former Wales lock.
“I’ve known him since he was 14 and he is very, very likeable.
“Not only is he softly spoken and polite, he is also bright and articulate, a lad who knows what he wants and is intent on putting in the work to get it.
“His feet are very much on the ground and he doesn’t like all the fuss and attention.
“But he’s focused on being the best player he can be.
“He’s a credit to his family and to Whitchurch High School and in particular those who have helped him with his rugby and his development.
“Christ has a lot going for him.” Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Ryan Giggs: “I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind.”
What were Jones’ feelings when he first spotted young Tshiunza on a rugby field?
“I was coaching Cowbridge at age-grade level and we came across Rhiwbina three or four years ago,”