Former Tiger Odogwu glad he jumped ship to Sharks
WHEN Paolo Odogwu scored for Sale against Leicester in October it was a moment of personal satisfaction for the 19-year-old speedster who once cut a frustrated figure at the Midlands club’s academy.
Fed up with a lack of opportunities at the Tigers, the England U20 international headed north to the Sharks last summer and with 11 starts and three tries, including the one in Sharks’ 34-30 win against his former club, his decision has been vindicated.
“Moving on was a blessing in disguise because I was sitting behind nine or 10 players at Leicester,” Odogwu said.
“They don’t really have a history of backing young players. I saw at first hand loads of players who were good enough to play not playing – the likes of Harry Thacker, Alex Lewington, Henry Purdy and Scott Steele.
“That motivated me to go to another club and to show them what I could do. So, yes, it was nice for me to score against them.”
With his short, stocky frame, lightening quick feet and sudden burst of acceleration, Odogwu is the closest that Sale have come to finding a carbon copy of club legend Jason Robinson.
“He (Robinson) was one of my favourite players growing up. Obviously, he was such an exciting player to watch and he is a similar-sized build to me. Given the ridiculous things he achieved in the game, playing for England and the Lions, it is really nice to be compared to him.”
As with a lot of talented sportsman, Odogwu was accomplished in more than one sport growing up.
“It was only when I went to King Edward’s in Birmingham (the same school as ex-England Saxons wing Miles Benjamin) that I took up rugby.
“My first instinct was to just run as fast as I could because I was quite quick. I did some athletics in the Midlands - 100m, 200m and long jump - but I wasn’t quite quick enough. The last time I clocked myself over 100m was when I was 17 and I ran 11.2.
“But all the explosive work I did in sprint training has translated well into rugby.”
Like Robinson, Odogwu stands 5’9 tall and the aerial side of the game is a constant work on for the amiable teenager.
“Most wings are quick these days so you need to have other parts to your game,” he acknowledged. “With tall, hybrid wings like George North, crossfield kicks have become a big part of the game.
“Thankfully I’m naturally springy and can jump quite high. But I’m always working on my ability under the high ball – not just catching it but having the confidence in going up in the air and being dominant.”
With ex-Rugby League wingers Josh Charnley and Denny Solomona given their chance to shine, Odogwu has taken a back seat in the recent rounds of the Premiership but starts today in the Champions Cup against Toulon.
Odogwu, born in Coventry to a Nigerian mother and a half Italian/half Nigerian father, is happy with his lot and is unlikely to be out of the limelight for long, either in Sale colours or for England U20s.
He added: “It has turned out really well for me, I moved up here knowing there was a chance of some opportunities but I didn’t think I’d be starting nine Premiership and Champions Cup games in a row.
“If I’m not playing in the Premiership around February time, hopefully I’ll play in the U20 Six Nations. I got some game time when I was a year young last year and hopefully I’ll get a bit more this year. But I know I’ve got my work cut out to get in because it’s a good squad and a lot of last year’s World Cup-winning squad are still around.”