‘Fat Ronaldo’ having a ball on the rugby field
Football was his first love, but Domachowski is making waves in the 15-a-side game
HE calls himself the ‘Fat Ronaldo’ and is the first to admit that football was his first love. But it’s with the oval ball that Wales contender Corey Domachowski is now making a big mark.
The 24-year-old loosehead prop has enjoyed a real breakthrough season with Cardiff Blues, figuring week-in, week-out and earning rave reviews.
His powerful performances, both in the tight and around the field, have seen him emerge as a strong candidate for a spot in Wayne Pivac’s squad for the summer Tests against Canada and Argentina when it is named on Monday.
Yet rugby was not where his focus lay as a youngster.
“You will probably laugh at this, but I played football up until I was 16,” he says.
“I used to play centre-half or centre midfield. I used to love it.
“I was a massive football fan. Steven Gerrard was my idol. He was the main man.
“All my family played football really. I’m the only one in my family who has played rugby.
“But I probably liked food a bit too much, so I had to concentrate on rugby.”
Even when he did that, with his home-town club of Gilfach Goch, it wasn’t in his current position.
“You won’t believe it. I used to play outside-half, centre!” he recalls.
“Honest to good, you ask my local club.
“My idols were more the likes of Dan Carter and Jonny Wilkinson and people like that, but times have changed.
“I like my food a bit too much, so I’ve got to start looking at the props now!”
His passion for football still lives on in the nickname he has handed himself.
“I wind the boys up here. I call myself ‘Fat Ronaldo’” he reveals.
“I love football. It’s always something I followed it, I still follow it now, but rugby is the main sport for me now obviously.
“Now and again, we will have a little kickabout and I show the boys who Fat Ronaldo is then!”
An amiable, upbeat character, Domachowski does also have a serious, focused side when it comes to how he now approaches rugby.
Much of that is inspired by his family. There’s the incredible story of his Polish great-grandfather, Stefan, who survived the horrors of Auschwitz and eventually moved to Wales, settling in Pencoed and working as a miner.
“It was a real eye-opener when my nan told me about it,” he said.
“It’s quite remarkable really. It was amazing to hear the story.
“It’s been a great inspiration for me and it’s why I’m here today.”
What has given Domachowski added motivation is becoming a father, with his daughter Mia now coming up to two years old.
“It’s definitely matured me and made me a different person,” he said.
“Being a parent is challenging, but it’s the best gift you can have.
“It’s something that has really changed me on and off the field. It’s been good.
“You go out on the field and you always want to make your family proud.
“But when you have got a little one it makes it that little bit more special I think.
“It’s definitely given me an extra bit of motivation and a kick up the backside really.”
That kick has taken Domachowski to the brink of international recognition, with Pivac having already mentioned him in dispatches earlier this year.
So how does it feel to have people tipping him for a Wales call-up?
“It’s nice, obviously, for people to say that,” he said.
“It’s top of the tree. Everyone wants to play international rugby.
“If it’s meant to be, it will be and I would be more than grateful.
“But if it doesn’t, I will just keep working hard and hopefully the time will come in the future.
“The only thing you can control is how you prepare and how you play.”
Domachowski actually made his Blues debut back in 2016, the same year he was a Grand Slam winner with Wales U20s.
But his progress was then hampered by injuries, with Rhys Carre overtaking him in the pecking order.
This season, however, the 6ft, 18st
It’s bye-bye to the Blues as Cardiff end their campaign
8lbs powerhouse has been the go-to man, making 17 appearances, most of them as a starter.
“It’s been nice to get regular game time and play most weeks,” he said.
“It’s kind of new to the body, but something I am enjoying.
“I’ve always believed in myself, but it’s just getting that game-time and that belief from the coaches. It’s then your job to keep ticking the boxes and making sure they see what they want to see in you.
“There is still definitely a lot to work on. It’s my first year of playing week-in, week-out. I am just keen to keep taking steps forward and improving each game.”
He feels he is benefiting in a big way from working with former Wales and Lions prop Dai Young.
“It’s always going to be helpful when you’ve got someone of his calibre coming on board and he’s someone I want to take a lot of tips from,” he said.
“I’ve got on with him really well since he’s come in. He knows when to have a little joke and knows when it’s serious. It’s been good. I’m trying to take as much as I can from him and keep improving.
“To be doing this as your daily job is a dream come true.
“You’ve just got to cherish those moments, make sure you stay with your feet on the ground and keep working hard.”
MATTHEW Morgan makes his first start in nine weeks as Cardiff say bye-bye to the Blues this weekend in their final game of the season.
The fleet-footed full-back returned from a groin injury as a replacement against Munster last Friday. Now he wears 15 for this evening’s Rainbow Cup clash with Zebre at the Arms Park (7.35pm).
With Lion Josh Adams rested and Hallam Amos (concussion), Owen Lane (suspended) and Aled Summerhill (wrist) all sidelined, club stalwart Dan Fish steps in on the wing.
As Olly Robinson has picked up shoulder damage which will keep him for up to six weeks and James Ratti (lower back) is also out, there’s an opportunity for flanker Gwilym Bradley.
Scrum-half Lloyd Williams also comes in amid five changes, while centre Rey Lee-Lo makes a welcome return on the bench after a nine-week lay-off with a leg injury.
It will be the final time the team runs out as Cardiff Blues, with the side to be re-branded as Cardiff Rugby from next season.
Director of rugby Dai Young, said: “We want to finish on a high in the last game of the season at home.
“Hopefully we’ll have the performance that we’re looking for alongside the result, which would give the Cardiff supporters a little bit of excitement ahead of coming back at the start of next season when, hopefully, the crowds are back on board.
“This competition has definitely been a useful exercise for us.
“I’ve obviously only been here a couple of months so it’s given me the opportunity to have a look at some players who hadn’t really figured in the league.
“We’ve had a look at different combinations and tried players in different positions.”
Due to absences and injuries, Zebre coach Michael Bradley has opted for a young squad, with three permit players called up on the bench.
Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Jason Harries, Willis Halaholo, Ben Thomas, Dan Fish; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Cory Hill, James Botham, Gwilym Bradley, Josh Turnbull. Reps: Kirby Myhill, Rhys Carre, Dmitri Arhip, Rory Thornton, Alun Lawrence, Tomos Williams, Harri Millard, Rey Lee-Lo.
Zebre: Michelangelo Biondelli; Pierre Bruno, Federico Mori, Enrico Lucchin, Giovanni D’Onofrio; Carlo Canna, Guglielmo Palazzani; Daniele Rimpelli, Oliviero Fabiani, Eduardo Bello, Samuele Ortis, Leonard Krumov, Maxime Mbanda, Iacopo Bianchi, Renato Giammarioli. Reps: Marco Manfredi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Matteo Nocera, Cristian Stoian, Giovanni Licata, Nicolo Casilio, Jacopo Trulla, Filippo Di Marco.
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)