Paolo Odogwu

Paolo Odogwu (born 18 February 1997) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a winger for Premiership club Wasps. In 2019, Paolo became the Premiership Rugby 7’s All-time top try scorer.

Paolo Odogwu
Birth namePaolo Chukwudi Odogwu
Date of birth (1997-02-18) 18 February 1997
Place of birthCoventry, England
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight98 kg (15 st 6 lb)
SchoolKing Edward's School, Birmingham
Leicester Grammar School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, Outside Centre
Current team Wasps
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2019
2017
2017
2019–present		 Sale Sharks
→ Sale FC (loan)
→ Rotherham Titans (loan)
Wasps		 29
24
1
16		 (35)
(100)
(0)
(30)
Correct as of 7 January 2021
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015
2016–2017		 England U18
England U20		 2
5		 (10)
(0)
Correct as of 27 December 2017

Rugby career

After playing many positions at age grade level for King Edward’s School Birmingham and Walsall RFC including prop, and number 8;[1] Odogwu was deemed "too fast" to be a forward and focused his talent in the centres and on the wing.[1]

Odogwu spent his academy years at Leicester Tigers, scoring a memorable try in Marcos Ayerza's testimonial match at Welford Road, beating three players from the halfway line to score in the corner.[2] He was released by Leicester in the summer of 2016 and signed for Sale Sharks.[3]

Sale Sharks

Odogwu rose to fame after his performances for Sale in the Aviva Premiership Singha 7s tournament, scoring 8 tries in the group stage, breaking the record of 7 set by Christian Wade the previous year. This earnt him the man of the round award.[4]

In September 2016 he made his senior debut for Sale in the second round of the Premiership season against Harlequins, impressing onlookers with footwork, pace and power.[5] The following month saw him score his first try for the club against former side Leicester in round 5.[6]

Odogwu left Sale at the end of the 2018-19 season after spending 3 seasons at the club and making 29 first team appearances, signing for Coventry based club Wasps.[7]

Wasps

Odogwu scored 6 tries for Wasps at the 2019 Premiership 7s, helping the team reach the final in what was his first outing for the club.[8] Odogwu was banned for 6 weeks in November 2019 after making contact with the head of Sale Sharks player Rohan Janse van Rensburg with his boot whilst fielding a high kick.[9]

He scored his first tries for the club in round 2 of the 2020-21 Premiership season against Gloucester; finding his way over the tryline twice in the last 2 minutes of the game to help Wasps to a try bonus point.[10] After some excellent form in late 2020 and early 2021 Odogwu earnt his first man of the match award in a thrilling 44-52 victory away to Bath.[11]

International

Odogwu, who is of Nigerian and Italian descent,[1] represented England under 18's.[12] He then played for England U20 in the 2016 Six Nations Under 20s Championship[13] and came off the bench in the final of the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship as England finished runners up to New Zealand.[14] In January 2021 he was called into the England Senior Test team for the 2021 Six Nations

References
  1. Bridge, Bobby (4 December 2020). "Paolo Odogwu: 'Pigeon holed' as a prop to breaking barriers and defences at centre". CoventryLive. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. Meagher, Gerard (5 September 2015). "Argentina warm up for Rugby World Cup with nine tries to beat Leicester". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  3. Middleton, Nathan (13 June 2016). "Sale Sharks: CorpArq owner Simon Orange makes investment promise". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. "Odogwu excited by Wade comparison". Premiership Rugby. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  5. "Sale Sharks 19-10 Harlequins". Sky Sports. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  6. Williams, Adam (1 October 2016). "Premiership: Sale Sharks 34-30 Leicester Tigers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  7. "Paolo Odogwu: Wasps to sign Sale Sharks winger for 2019-20 season". BBC Sport. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  8. Bridge, Bobby (14 September 2019). "Wasps lose to Saracens in Premiership 7s final at Franklin's Gardens". CoventryLive. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  9. "Paolo Odogwu: Wasps wing gets six-week ban for kicking opponent". BBC Sport. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. "Premiership: Gloucester 40-24 Wasps". BBC Sport. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  11. Bridge, Bobby (8 January 2021). "Bath 44-52 Wasps: Paolo Odogwu and Tom Cruse land braces in Gallagher Premiership thriller". CoventryLive. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  12. Bridge, Bobby (9 January 2021). "Paolo Odogwu: Wasps star tipped for Italy Six Nations call-up". CoventryLive. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  13. Webb, Nick (11 March 2016). "Six Nations: England U20 16-42 Wales U20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  14. "Baby Blacks embarrass England in U20 final". News24. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
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