Young front rower, Sam Nixon, from Yeovil, Somerset has been awarded an Academy bursary.
Sam joined the Senior Academy in pre-season and has taken his playing opportunities with both hands.
Specialist front row coaching, in particular from pro player Ben Prescott, has seen his technique improve immensely and it will continue to improve through games and further specialist sessions.
Sam played in a very successful Millfield School 1st XV and as a West Country farm boy, showed a high work rate and natural physicality.
Now out of school and working on the family farm, his commitment to his rugby and career goals is evident as he describes a typical day on the farm and what he is currently doing in order to achieve his rugby goals.
“I start work on the farm at 6am,” Nixon revealed.
“I help get the cows in and then go on to load the feeder wagon.
“When milking is finished I clean out the cubicles, scrape out and straw down.
“I then unload the feed into the troughs.
“After breakfast I help dad trim cows feet or mend fences or do whichever job needs doing.
“Other jobs like driving a mini slew and clearing ditches all day is just part of what we do.
“I then help dad in the evening milking and generally finish work at 6.30pm.”
Sam’s rugby commitment involves leaving the Somerset farm earlier in the afternoon on Mondays and Wednesdays to make the big road trip to the club in Richmond.
He explains: “On Monday, gym group session days for the forwards, I finish work between 2-2.30pm and leave home at 3.15pm to arrive in time for a 5.30pm start with the S&C coach followed by the rugby session till 8pm.
“On the Wednesday training days I leave home at 4pm to arrive in time for the rugby session at 6.30pm and leave the club at 9.15pm.
“It’s a 220 mile round trip and takes at least two hours each way.
“I normally arrive back home between 11-11.30pm.
“On non-training days when I have finished work I either do free weights at the gym, go on the rowing machine or run a six mile circuit.”
Academy Director, Corné du Rand, feels that this is the type of player that London Scottish are after.
He added: “Sam’s commitment, travelling many miles three times a week for training and games, is remarkable, and his determination to improve and willingness to learn, are some of the reasons that makes him a prospect for the future.”
Sam is sponsored by the Front Row Union (FRU), made up of like-minded club members and friends of the club, who will form a key part of the Academy going forward.
A spokesman for the FRU said; “We are delighted to be able to sponsor Sam.
“The dedication Sam has shown in his drive to make it as a top flight prop is more than admirable. We look forward to seeing him develop into a virtuoso of the dark arts!”
If you are interested in joining The London Scottish Academy, contact Academy Director Corne Du Rand on Corne.duRand@londonscottish.com
