PARTISAN observers in Wales were poring over Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's family tree when the Cardiff-born Exeter wing popped up in England's Six Nations squad.
When it came to pledging international allegiance, however, the 21-yearold rising star opted to take a leaf out of his parents' and grandparents' medical careers.
Feyi-Waboso is every bit as focused on following in his family footsteps to become a doctor as he is about cutting it at Test level with Steve Borthwick's England.
So, once Cardiff University had rejected his application, despite three A*s at A-Level, Feyi-Waboso now candidly admits the path had opened for him to go on and choose England.
Asked if he had ever wondered what might have been had he been accepted by Cardiff, Feyi-Waboso replied: "Not really, no. As soon as I didn't get in, I didn't think about it again, to be fair." Wales boss Warren Gatland's reaction to a former Cardiff academy starlet declaring for England was to reveal other coaches in the country were "disappointed" in the young wing's decision.
Wales ultimately should be disappointed with their own mishandling of a young player's wider career aspirations.
Where Cardiff and the city's university were disjointed, Exeter Chiefs have worked hand in hand with the Devon city's seat of learning.
この記事は Evening Standard の February 15, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Evening Standard の February 15, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis
