Sky is the limit for Tshiunza after ‘wild’ journey from Congo to Wales call-up
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To describe the path of Wayne Pivac’s latest recruit to the Wales squad as unorthodox would be an understatement indeed.
Christ Tshiunza is certainly no ordinary player. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he arrived in Wales with his parents at the age of seven and was educated at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, whose past pupils also include Sam Warburton, Gareth Bale and Geraint Thomas. Tshiunza started playing rugby only five years ago with Rhiwbina RFC.
After just two seasons with Exeter Chiefs, the 19-year-old 6ft 7in forward has emerged as one of the top young prospects in the game, culminating in yesterday’s Welsh call-up an hour before he took to the field for Exeter University, where he studies.
The teenager is a hot property for a number of leading Test sides given his eligibility for both England and France. But Wales head coach Pivac believes the forward, who has appeared in only four Premiership matches for Exeter, could become a game-changing talent for Wales, if not in the upcoming autumn series then by the next Rugby World Cup and beyond.
“He brings something nobody else in the country has in terms of height and athleticism,” Pivac said.
England Under-20s called up Tshiunza earlier this year for a game with London Irish Under-23s, but now he remains firmly in Wales’ clutches and could become a superstar. Tshiunza described his selection as “all a bit surreal” after a “very wild couple of weeks.”
He will now compete for a spot in Wales’s pack for the autumn series that features Tests against New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
“In Christ, we’ve got a young man who is obviously a great athlete,” said Pivac. “He’s got a good skill set on him. “He obviously lacks game time in senior rugby. He’s one that we believe is a six going forward, and he can also cover second row. Really, it’s getting him involved now for his development. Whether he plays rugby in this series, time will tell. Certainly we want to get him in and around the senior players and get him in the environment.”
Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby, suggested that “the skies are the limit” when it comes to Tshiunza’s potential. “I am not surprised,” he said. “It is a bit early in his rugby career and I don’t think even Christ would mind me saying that, but I can understand the reasons why.
“He has got very good speed, he is big and strong and quick off the floor line-out wise, and he likes to bump into people.”
Wales will be without flanker Josh Navidi for the series following a shoulder injury, and will miss full-back Liam Williams against New Zealand, after he had his appendix removed. Other injured players include experienced operators Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, George North and Leigh Halfpenny.
There is, however, a return for Thomas Young, the Wasps flanker whose move to Cardiff was announced yesterday, reuniting the back row with his father, Dai. Young had previously been ineligible to be capped by Wales due to being based outside of the country.
Ellis Jenkins and Gareth Anscombe return to the squad after injuries, while the other new cap is Scarlets prop Willgriff John.
Wales will be without seven of their 38-man squad, including Young and Tshiunza, for the autumn opener against New Zealand in two weeks’ time due to those players being based in England, with Pivac defending the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to host the Test outside the designated autumn window despite Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Louis Rees-zammit also missing, and with Wales having not defeated the All Blacks since 1953.
“The reason for having this game, I wholeheartedly agree with, is that we need funding,” he said.”