Young Gun: Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas – Wasps back row

Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas has been a standout performer for Henley this season but getting his professional debut for Wasps was his main goal.
That dream came true last week when he came off the bench against the Cardiff Blues at the Ricoh Arena in the LV=Cup.
The 20-year-old back-five forward, who stands 6ft 3ins and weighs 104kg (16st 5lbs), started the season impressing in the Premiership Sevens before getting regular game time with the Hawks, where he is dual-registered, scoring eight tries.
By his own admission his ten-minute cameo last Sunday could have been improved, so he has already earmarked a second appearance.
“I've been working towards that day for a long time so it was great to get on the pitch last week,” he told The Rugby Paper.
“It was a lot of hard work as the pace of the game was much faster than I'm used to. It was quite overwhelming but I tried to remember the job I was asked to do. Thinking three of four phases ahead was the hardest thing.
“The occasion didn't have time to sink in while I was on the pitch to be honest. I played 10 minutes and it felt like it flew by when the final whistle went.
“The crowd was big for the Premiership Sevens at Franklin's Gardens but last week was certainly the loudest. Playing in front of our own fans for a competitive game was phenomenal.
“But looking at the tape with the coaches we've agreed it wasn't good enough so I hope I'll get another opportunity to make things right in the future.”
Grandson of a Russian prisoner-of-war who found sanctuary in England after World War Two, Hirskyj-Douglas grew up in Cheshire and attended Wimslow High School where he won the U15s Daily Mail Cup in 2010.
Despite being on the Sale Sharks' books, he was snapped up by Wasps and moved south the following year. Enrolled at Henley College, one of the club's affiliated schools, he was part of the team that reached the AASE League final in 2012.
Last season, he moved up to senior rugby, being dual-registered with Chinnor before the switch to Henley last summer.
He said: “My great grandad was a Russian chemist and he was shot by the Germans after refusing to work for them and my grandad was taken to a prisoner-of-war camp. I haven't got any contact with my Russian family but I'm very proud of my heritage.
“Winning the Daily Mail Cup was great but reaching the AASE League final against Hartpury was probably my biggest achievement as a schoolboy.
“Sale were interested in me but it all changed at the Daily Mail Cup semi-finals. Wellington and Hampton, two of Wasps' affiliated schools, were playing in the other semi-final and the Wasps scouts stayed to watch us and it went from there really.
“I get on very well with the coaches at Henley and they play a very exciting brand of rugby – one that I love to play.
“We've been doing really well this season so far being top of the league. But that also means every game is a final because all the teams want to beat us. Winning promotion with them is my biggest goal for the rest of the season.
“Playing men's rugby has been great for me as a forward.
“I've had to learn a lot about the physics of the game and how to tackle grown men. It's all about details in your technique and how well you're conditioned so I've been working hard on that.”