Wallabies international tighthead Oliver Hoskins has labeled Gloucester’s young prop signing Afolabi Fosagbon as a rising star of the game.
The 18-year-old tighthead has signed for the Cherry and Whites academy following the demise of London Irish this month which saw the club suspended from competitive rugby after failing to show proof of their ability to finance the club through the 2023/24 season.
Fosagbon made his senior debut for the Exiles in a win against Harlequins back in September in the Premiership Rugby Cup as the club reached the final for a second successive year. Having represented England U18s, Fosagbon played in all five of England U20s games during the Six Nations and went viral with a quick tap try from the edge of the 22 against France.
Last weekend the 6ft 4ins, 20st 8lb powerhouse helped dismantle the Irish pack at scrum time for England at the U20s World Championships out in South Africa during a 34-34 draw. He starts on the bench against Fiji tonight in the second group stage game of Pool A.
Not bad for a player who only took up rugby at U14s and outlined scrummaging as his key work on when he spoke toThe Rugby Paperin April. He said: I love the physical aspects of rugby whether that’s in setpiece or attacking/defending but ball carrying is my specialty. Scrummaging is something you can never stop working on. It’s my main job and I feel like it can put me in a good place.”
During their brief time as teammates at London Irish, Fosagbon certainly caught the eye of Hoskins who will be packing down for Saracens next season.
He wrote on Twitter: “He’s a freak - going to be incredible one day.”
Fasogbon went out on loan at National One side Esher during the 2022/23 season, playing under England legend Peter Winterbottom. Now his development, particularly at scrum time, will be entrusted to World Cup-winning prop Trevor Woodman at the Cherry and Whites and new forwards transition coach T Rhys Thomas, a former Welsh international hooker.
