Ellis Genge
Ellis Genge (born 16 February 1995)[3] is an English rugby union player for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby who made his international debut for England in 2016. His position is prop. Genge played 26 times for Bristol between 2013–2016. He is known for his aggressive ball carrying. He is nicknamed "Baby Rhino" by the Rugby community.
Birth name | Ellis Genge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 16 February 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bristol, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 121 kg (19 st 1 lb; 267 lb)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
Born in Bristol[3] Genge grew up on the Knowle West council estate,[4] and was educated at John Cabot Academy.[5] He started playing rugby aged 12 at Old Redcliffians playing in the back row.[6] At 16 Genge moved to Hartpury College and captained their rugby team to victory in the AASE league.[6] Genge represented England at youth level from U17 up to U20. [7] According to Genge, he was first introduced to the front row by former England youth coach Bobby Walsh originally to have as an additional option but this eventually resulted in a permanent career change. [8]
Career
Bristol
Genge joined Bristol at 18 and was convinced to change position to prop (from the back row) by the offer of a two-year contract if he changed position.[6] Genge went on loan to Clifton Rugby Club to play loose head prop in National 2 South in 2014/15 starting 13 games and coming in as a sub in 1.
Genge made his professional debut for Bristol on 8 December 2013 in the British and Irish Cup against Scottish side Gala, scoring a try in a 62-7 win. His first league game in the RFU Championship came against London Scottish on 26 September 2014.[6]
2015–16 season
Genge gained the attention of Richard Cockerill, moving to Leicester Tigers on loan in February 2016.[9] The move was, in part, due to off-field issues, including being arrested after an away game against Ulster in 2015.[10] He made his Leicester debut as substitute against Wasps on 12 March 2016, replacing Marcos Ayerza, and his first start came on 7 May 2016 against Bath at the Rec. The move to Leicester was made permanent on 26 May 2016.[11]
On 28 May 2016 he received his first call up to the England squad after only one start for Leicester Tigers.[12] He made his international debut on 29 May 2016 at Twickenham as a 66th-minute substitute in a 27 – 13 win against Wales.[13][14] Genge traveled on the 2016 England rugby union tour of Australia but was not used in any of the matches.
2016–17
Genge became a regular for Leicester in the 2016–17 season playing a club-leading 31 matches in the season. After missing out on selection for the 2016 Autumn Internationals, he was recalled to the England squad for the 2017 Six Nations Championship.[15] The season ended with him named the club's young player of the year[16] and winning the Premiership Rugby Discovery of the Season Award.[17]
With many key players missing due to the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, Genge was called up to the England squad for the 2 test tour of Argentina, starting both games,[18] and also featuring in the warm-up game against the Barbarians.[19]
2017–18
Following a strong start to the 2017–18 season Genge was named in England's squad for the 2017 Autumn Internationals and played against Argentina and Samoa. On 2 December 2017 Genge suffered a shoulder injury in a Premiership Rugby match against Wasps.[20] After four months injured Genge returned to the starting line up on 7 April 2018 against Bath in a match at Twickenham.[21]
Style of play
Genge's scrummaging has benefited from the tutelage of veteran internationals Marcos Ayerza and Dan Cole.[10] He is known for his very powerful ball-carrying skills, aggression and work-rate.[4][10]
Personal life
Genge has developmental coordination disorder.[22]
International tries
As of 1 November 2020
Try | Opposing team | Location | Venue | Competition | Date | Result | Score |
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1 | Italy | Newcastle, England | St James' Park | 2019 rugby world cup warm up match | 6 September 2019 | Win | 37-0 |
2 | Scotland | Edinburgh, Scotland | Murrayfield Stadium | 2020 Six Nations | 8 February 2020 | Win | 13-6 |
References
- https://www.leicestertigers.com/player/ellis-genge
- https://www.leicestertigers.com/player/ellis-genge
- "Ellis Genge". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- "Ellis Genge interview: Leicester Tigers prop talks violence, aggression and why he is always angry". The Telegraph. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- "RFU profile". Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- "Young Gun: Ellis Genge – England U20s and Bristol prop". The Rugby Paper. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- https://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-men/squad/ellis-genge
- https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-lockdown-one-with-ellis-genge/id1438018392?i=1000478351770
- "Ellis Genge: Leicester Tigers sign Bristol prop on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- "Ellis Genge opens up about going from a rebel at Bristol to becoming a Leicester cult hero". Express. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "Ellis Genge joins Leicester Tigers from Bristol on a permanent deal". BBC Sport. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- "Uncapped Ellis Genge one of four Leicester Tigers players called into England squads". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- "England 27-13 Wales: international rugby union – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
- "England 27 Wales 13". ESPN. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- "Six Nations 2017: England include Mike Williams, Nathan Catt and Alex Lozowski". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
- "Players pick their best of the season". Leicester Tigers. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- "Leicester Tigers' Ellis Genge takes Discovery of the Year crown at Aviva Premiership Awards". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "Leicester Tigers prop Ellis Genge ready for Test start against Argentina". Leicester Mercury. Leicester Mercury. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "Leicester Tigers Ellis Genge and George McGuigan receive England calls to face Barbarians". Leicester Mercury. Leicester Mercury. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "England's Ellis Genge to miss start of Six Nations after shoulder surgery". 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- "Sione Kalamafoni shows his class as Leicester launch comeback at Bath". The Guardian. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- Hennessy, Jason (6 September 2018). "Ellis Genge Was The Talk of Television Last Night Following This Incredible Interview". RugbyLAD. Retrieved 15 April 2020.