Asher Opoku-Fordjour

Last updated

Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Date of birth (2004-07-16) 16 July 2004 (age 20) [1]
Place of birth Coventry, England
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb) [2]
School City of Oxford College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Current team Sale Sharks
Youth career
Worcester Warriors
Wasps
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2022– Sale Sharks 20 (5)
Correct as of 1 December 2024
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2023–2024 England U20 19 (5)
2024– England A 1 (0)
2024– England 1 (0)
Correct as of 1 December 2024

Asher Opoku-Fordjour (born 16 July 2004) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop forward for Premiership club Sale Sharks and England.

Contents

Early life

Born in Coventry, the youngest of four brothers, Opoku-Fordjour moved when he was 16 years old to Oxford, where he attended City of Oxford College. Opoku-Fordjour had started playing rugby union at 10 years of age for Broadstreet Rugby Club and initially played on the wing, before moving to flanker, hooker, and then finally prop. He was released from the Worcester Warriors academy in his teens. [3] [4] [5]

Club career

Opoku-Fordjour played rugby for Kenilworth RFC in Warwickshire and played for the academy side of Wasps RFC. However, after Wasps disbanded due to financial reasons, he joined Sale Sharks in November 2022. [6] [7] He played on loan in the National Rugby League with both Stourbridge and Sedgley Tigers during the 2022–23 season. [8]

Opoku-Fordjour made his debut for Sale in the Premiership Rugby Cup at the start of the 2023–24 season. [9] He made his Rugby Premiership debut for Sale against Newcastle Falcons on 17 November 2023. [10] Opoku-Fordjour was voted the RPA's 15 under 23 MVP of the month for December 2023. [11]

In December 2024, Opoku-Fordjour scored his first try for his club in the Premiership finding a gap next to a ruck to score under the posts against Leicester Tigers as Sale went on to win 39-25. [12] In January 2025, he signed a new three-year deal with the club. [13]

International career

Opoku-Fordjour was a member of the England under-20 side that finished fourth at the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship and scored his only try at international youth level in pool stage draw with Ireland. [14] He won the 2024 U20 Six Nations Championship with England, starting all five games in the front row. [15] [16] Opoku-Fordjour was included in the squad for the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship and started in the final as England defeated France at Cape Town Stadium to become Champions. [17] [18]

In November 2024 Opoku-Fordjour started for England A in a victory over Australia A at Twickenham Stoop. [19] [20] That same month he received his first call-up to the senior England squad for the Autumn internationals. [21] Opoku-Fordjour was named amongst the replacements for their last Test of the calendar year against Japan on 24 November 2024, and made his international debut by coming on as a substitute in the 55th minute. [22] [23]

Personal life

Opoku-Fordjour has Ghanaian heritage with family living in Accra. [24]

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References

  1. ↑ "A. Opoku-Fordjour". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Asher Opoku-Fordjour". All Rugby. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Opoku-Fordjour eyeing up Under-20 World Cup target". Chardandilminsteenews. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  4. ↑ Schofield, Daniel (15 December 2023). "'As rare as teddy bear s---': Asher Opoku-Fordjour is English rugby's new prop sensation" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Savage, Angus (27 April 2023). "England U19: Alan Dickens names Men's side to face Italy - Bedford Blues host U19 International on Friday Night". Nextgenxv.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  6. ↑ "Sale Sharks sign two Wasps stars with immediate effect". Ruck.co.uk. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Kelleher, Will (4 November 2024). "Trampoline fights and rare athleticism for a prop: making of Asher Opoku-Fordjour" . The Times . Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  8. ↑ Heal, Chris (7 July 2023). "Asher Opoku-Fordjour Interview: The dynamic prop who is impressing at the World U20s". Talking Rugby Union. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  9. ↑ Westerby, John (3 November 2023). "Prop idols: Meet the youngsters who can rebuild England's scrum" . The Times . Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Heagney, Liam (1 December 2023). "The massive compliment Joe Marler paid to a teenage Sale tighthead". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Congratulations to our two #15Under23 #MVP's for November..." X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. ↑ "Sale second-half power show sinks Leicester". BBC Sport. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "England prop Opoku-Fordjour extends Sale deal". BBC Sport. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  14. ↑ Francis, Nick (26 June 2023). "Runaway England prop obliterates half the Ireland team at World Championship". Rugbyonslaught.com. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  15. ↑ undefined, undefined (15 March 2024). "England U20s champions after stunning win in France - U6N Landing Page". www.sixnationsrugby.com. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "Under-20 Six Nations: England come from behind to beat France and clinch title". BBC Sport. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  17. ↑ Meagher, Gerard (19 July 2024). "England dominate France to claim fourth World Rugby under-20 title". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "England overpower France to win Under-20 World Cup". BBC Sport. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  19. ↑ Morgan, Charlie (6 November 2024). "Gabriel Ibitoye called up to England A squad for Australia fixture" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  20. ↑ Telfer, Alastair (17 November 2024). "Murley scores twice as England A beat Australia A". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  21. ↑ "England call up Opoku-Fordjour in 36-player squad". BBC Sport. 3 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  22. ↑ Meagher, Gerard (21 November 2024). "Prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour set to make England bow against Japan". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  23. ↑ Mann, Mantej (24 November 2024). "Nine-try England thrash Japan 59-14 to end losing run - reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  24. ↑ Lyall, Jamie (11 January 2024). "Asher Opoku-Fordjour: 'Sale, England, the Lions... I want to do it all'". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 11 January 2024.


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