The Making Of Tommy Reffell

We chart the rise of the Leicester and Wales flanker known as Tommy Turnover

- NEIL SQUIRES

OMMY REFFELL has already made an enormous impression just 18 caps into his international career with Wales.

In a grim Six Nations for Warren Gatland’s side, ‘Tommy Turnover’ was a shining light, his 11 breakdown steals matching Scotsman John Barclay’s all-time tournament record from 2011. The Leicester Tigers flanker was Wales’ Player of the Championship.

Now, two years on from his Man of the Match performance in Wales’ first win against the Springboks on South African soil, he’s set to face the world champions again at Twickenham on 22 June.

We asked some of those closest to the 25-year-old what makes him tick…

The Teacher

Simon King, the former Wales U18 coach, was head of physical education at Pencoed Comprehensive when Tommy Reffell was at the school 

“I first met Tommy when he was 11 starting out at the school and he was pretty much the norm in South Wales in that he wanted to be a rugby player.

“He wasn’t a standout sportsman – there were boys at that age who were better – but they made their own life choices and Tommy was pretty dedicated. It was in his blood. His father was a very good player at Pencoed where he played his club rugby.

“The point at which we all locked onto what a good rugby player he was was when we won the Welsh Schools U14s Cup at rugby league. We played a lot of league at the school and Tommy was captain of that team.

“I was his form teacher for a while and he was the type of kid you want to teach every day. He always had a smile on his face. He wasn’t textbook academic but he was totally reliable.