1ALEX STEWART
Age 20 (28 May 2004) Born Edinburgh Position Flanker Club Edinburgh Country Scotland
My earliest memory was going to a touch rugby festival in primary school. I played at Liberton High School and joined our partner club Lismore RFC, which later became Edinburgh Harlequins.
It was the toughness of it. The up-front conflict with the opposition but I also just love being part of a team. The socialising is what brought me back to it again and again. It’s where I saw friends and made them.
I played basketball for a while and a little bit of cricket. I also did quite a bit of running. Sport was my thing growing up as I was good at it but not at school!
I started at No 8 and then moved to the flank when we started playing 15-a-side. I think I had one game at centre and that wasn’t for me.
I went to the BT Sport Academy when I was 14 or 15. I played an East v West game, made the Regional Training Centre and then went on to Scotland U18.
After the first Celtic Challenge, I went into the U20s. Then this year I had another Celtic Challenge with Edinburgh and playing for my home city was something I’d never even dreamed of. But it was a dream come true to be invited to the Six Nations squad. The whole experience exceeded my expectations. To be picked to start in the 20-18 win in Wales (their first win there for 20 years) was incredible.
David Pocock and Michael Hooper. I liked their ability to get over the ball and stay strong.
Hard-working, busy and comfortable defending.
The contact area, so tackling. I like running lines in the wide channels too, so edge attack.
I’m working on being the assist tackler and hitting on the ball and trying to take it away.
Eric Jones. He’s coach at Corstorphine Cougars. He got me into rugby at primary school and I followed him to the Prem team. He’s been vital to where I am at the minute.
Yes, law at Edinburgh University.
2 OLAMIDE SODEKE
Age 18 (26 July 2005) Born North London Position Lock Club Saracens Country England
Year seven at Gravesend Grammar School. Then I
