As Gorseinon-born rugby player Eli Walker prepares to make his international debut this weekend, the 21-year-oldâs childhood mentors say he was always destined for greatness.
Ospreys star Walker will line-up against South Africa on Saturday having impressed for his region, scoring 10 tries in 36 appearances.
And as Chris Fuge explains, the 6ft, 13st potential superstar comes from excellent sporting stock.
The head of physical education at Penyrheol Comprehensive School, Gorseinon, said: âEli was a lovely lad and very well thought of by all members of staff here. He was popular, polite and suffered no airs or graces.
âHis talent however was always very clear and we were aware that we were dealing with a very special athlete from an early age, and not just on the rugby field. He stood out from the crowd.
âEli had natural athleticism in abundance and, luckily for the school, he was also part of a very talented age group.â
âWith him in the team we won a prestigious rugby sevens tournament, but he was also part of a five-a-side football team who were crowned British Champions in 2007.â
That winning side also included the Welsh international, former Cardiff City and current Celtic footballer Adam Matthews.
And Eli has personal links with a number of other people who have enjoyed sporting success.
Chris added: âHis first cousin is Swansea City and Wales footballer Jazz Richards and he is also related to Welsh international netball player Pamela Walker.
âEliâs cousin Tanisha Walker, a recent pupil here, has just travelled to America where she is hoping to secure a basketball college scholarship, and I believe her father also played basketball in the American NBA.
âEli comes from sporting stock and was destined for greatness.â
The first man to spot the youngsters talents, however ,was Richard Davies, a coach at Gorseinon RFC.
âI had him from the age of seven,â he said.
âHe was an immense talent. The thing that stood out was the fact he was such a natural runner.
âWe had other boys who were faster than him, but he had this sublime running style.
âLeigh Halfpenny and Dan bigger were playing in a slightly older age-group, but I had Eli until he left us for the Ospreys at 16 and Adam Matthews was also in that side.â
Walker has previously represented Wales at Under-16s, 18s and 20s level and has not forgotten his roots.
âI spoke to him last night and heâs over the moon,â Richard added.
âHeâs that sort of mature, likable lad.
âHe wonât forget his roots. Eli is in contact with all the boys he played with at youth level, even though theyâve all gone their separate ways.
âThatâs the kind of boy he is, and Saturday will be an immensely proud occasion for us all.â
Chris Fuge added: âEveryone at the school has been very excited to see both Eli and Leigh Halfpenny, who we also had here at the school, named in Saturdayâs starting line-up together for the first time.
âThe PE staff had planned to watch Eliâs debut in the Millennium Stadium but we were expecting that to be against Tonga later this month, and so there has been a mad rush to secure tickets this week.
âBut we will be there on Saturday and are very excited.
âWe are all incredibly proud of his achievements.â
Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-henry-four-frame-captaincy-104348234--spt.html
New Wales rugby star Eli Walker"s humble beginnings
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