Afolabi Fasogbon

Last updated

Afolabi Fasogbon
Birth nameAfolabi Fasogbon
Date of birth (2004-08-24) 24 August 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Surrey, England
Height1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight132 kg (20 st 11 lb)
School The Bishop Wand Church of England School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Saracens Amateur RFC ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021–2023 London Irish 1 (0)
2022 Esher (loan) 0 (0)
2023– Gloucester 11 (0)
Correct as of 9 November 2024
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2021 England U18 1 (0)
2023–2024 England U20 16 (5)
2024– England A 1 (0)
Correct as of 17 November 2024

Afolabi Fasogbon (born 24 August 2004) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop forward for Gallagher Premiership club Gloucester. [1]

Contents

Despite showing promise from a young age with both Gloucester and England A, he first gained media attention for his confident attitude when facing more experienced opposition, waving off England international Ellis Genge as he was being substituted in a fixture against Bristol Bears before shushing Northampton Saints prop Tom West after winning a penalty against him. Despite this, friends and teammates have made it clear his on-field personality is very different from his off-field one. [2]

Early life

Fasogbon’s Nigerian parents grew up in Lagos before emigrating to England. [3] He attended Bishop Wand School in Sunbury-on-Thames. [3] Despite not playing rugby union until he was at under-14 level, he joined the London Irish Academy at 15 years-old, having previously represented Saracens Amateur RFC. [4] [5]

Club career

London Irish

Fasogbon signed on as a professional with London Irish ahead of the 2022-23 season. [6] In September 2022 he made his debut for London Irish against Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby Cup. [7]

Esher

Fasogbon also played for Esher in National League 1 on loan. On his first XV debut he scored a try against Cinderford at Molesey Road in October 2022. [8]

Gloucester

After London Irish entered administration it was announced in June 2023 that Fasogbon had joined Gloucester. [9]

International career

In August 2021 Fasogbon earned his only England U18 cap in a match against Italy U18. [8] He represented England U20 during the 2023 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and on 10 February 2023 scored his only try at international youth level in a 35-25 victory over Italy. [10] Later that year he was a member of the side that finished fourth at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship. [11]

Fasogbon made his only appearance of the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship against Scotland as England went on to win the competition. [12] He was included in their squad for the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship and started in the final as England defeated France at Cape Town Stadium to become junior world champions. [13] [14]

In November 2024 Fasogbon played for England A in a victory over Australia A. [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Cole (rugby union)</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Daniel Richard Cole is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Leicester Tigers and the England national team.

Samson Lee is a former Wales international rugby union player. Lee played for the Scarlets, as well as local teams Llanelli and Ammanford. His position is prop forward. Lee has represented Wales, making his debut against Argentina in November 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Marler</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Joseph William George Marler is an English former rugby union player who played as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins. He played for the England national team until his retirement in November 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonny May</span> England international rugby union player

Jonathan James May is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Pro D2 club Soyaux Angoulême and formerly for the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Thomas (rugby union)</span> Professional international rugby union player

Henry Thomas is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets. At international level Thomas has played for both England and Wales; first making his debut for England in 2013, before representing Wales in 2023.

Jonny Hill is an English professional rugby union player who plays at lock for Premiership club Sale Sharks. Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis Genge</span> England international rugby union player

Ellis Genge is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Bristol Bears and the England national team.

Thomas Michael Curry is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcus Smith (rugby union)</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Marcus Sebastian Smith is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins. Born in the Philippines, he represents England at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds and residency having lived in the UK since the age of 13.

William St Lawrence Webb Collier is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a tighthead prop for Top 14 club Castres Olympique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Randall (rugby union)</span> England international rugby union scrum half

Harry Alan J. Randall is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Bristol Bears in Premiership Rugby. Harry Randall is the younger brother of Jake Randall, the Scarlets youngest ever player.

Cadan Murley is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins.

Jack Clement is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Gloucester.

Oliver Francis Lawrence is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Bath and the England national team

Bevan Rodd is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Premiership Rugby club Sale Sharks. Born in Scotland, he represents England at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fin Smith</span> English rugby union player

Finlay Smith is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints and the England national team.

William Joseph is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins. He made his international debut for England in July 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandler Cunningham-South</span> English rugby union player

Chandler Cunningham-South is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the England national team.

Fin Baxter is an English professional rugby union player who plays for Premiership club Harlequins. His main position is loosehead prop but he can also play tighthead prop.

Joe Owen is an English professional rugby union footballer who plays as a lock for Rugby Premiership side Bristol Bears.

References

  1. Henson, Mike. "Marler's mic drop, Falcons' film night & Fasogbon's wave". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  2. Henson, Mike. "Marler's mic drop, Falcons' film night & Fasogbon's wave". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 Kelleher, Will (10 October 2024). "Afolabi Fasogbon: the 20-year-old, 20st prop who waved off Ellis Genge" . The Times. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  4. "Afolabi Fasogbon". London-Irish. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. Evely, John (29 June 2023). "He's a freak - going to be incredible one day' - Gloucester Rugby's latest recruit marked as a rising star". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. O’Donoghue, Conor (22 June 2022). "London Irish confirm 7 new professionals". Irish Post. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  7. "Young Guns: London Irish & England U20s prop Alofabi Fasogbon". The Rugby Paper. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  8. 1 2 Sansom, Tom (3 March 2023). "'Next Kyle Sinckler' – Three Future England Tighthead-Props To Boost Steve Borthwick's Squad". Ruck. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  9. "Gloucester sign five London Irish players after Exiles' demise". BBC Sport. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  10. "Ma'asi-White shines as England hold off Italy". Sixnationsrugby.com. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  11. Coles, Ben (10 July 2023). "England's next generation: The U20 stars of tomorrow who could break into Steve Borthwick's squad" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  12. "Under-20 Six Nations: Scotland 17-30 England - Visitors maintain Grand Slam bid". BBC Sport. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  13. Meagher, Gerard (19 July 2024). "England dominate France to claim fourth World Rugby under-20 title". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  14. "England overpower France to win Under-20 World Cup". BBC Sport. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  15. Morgan, Charlie (6 November 2024). "Gabriel Ibitoye called up to England A squad for Australia fixture" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  16. Telfer, Alastair (17 November 2024). "Murley scores twice as England A beat Australia A". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2024.