WASPS WING
From enduring three hamstring injuries in two years, to attending ‘Hogwarts' it's fair to say 19-year-old Toby Baldwin has had an eventful start to his rugby career.
Growing up in Wales, the Wasps Academy player has played the sport as long as he can remember, influenced by his older brother Corey who plays centre for the Scarlets.
He said: “My brother is four years older than me and we've both been on the same path. He played football and rugby and we both did a lot of athletics as well. I was always a little bit faster, so I've got that one up against him.
“He's always been a big role model, helping me along the way and giving me the right advice. I always thought if he can make it, I'm part of the same family so I can give it a go as well.”
As a multi-talented sportsman Toby was forced into a choice between rugby and football at a young age.
He said: “I was quite into my football growing up, then I made the decision to choose rugby as I much prefer the sport because of the physical side of it.
“It got to the point where I had to choose which training I would do in the week and I ultimately decided to go for rugby out of enjoyment.” A product of Rugby School, Toby believes he owes a lot to the school for making him the player he is.
He said: “It's like Hogwarts. It's a place that has to be seen and experienced to get a full picture. They put a lot of effort into making everyone feel welcome because there's people from all different backgrounds. Both the rugby and academic programme are brilliant, but they also try and make you into a whole person, which the motto refers to: ‘Whole person, whole point.'”
Toby has been sent out on loan three times since joining the Wasps Academy and believes it is vital for young players to get as much game time as possible.
He said: “The best place you can learn is playing a game and then you go back and review it with your coaches. There's no such thing as bad game time, just get yourself on the ball and enjoy it.
“If you're scared to do anything, just give it a go. What's the worst that can happen? You get tackled and you go again. Give a step a go, give a little chip and chase a go. There's nothing wrong about getting it wrong, you practise in the week, and you get it right the next week.”
Despite rising to the England U20 set up and training with the Wasps first team, Toby has endured nightmare hamstring problems.
He said: “I came back from a big hamstring operation after tearing it off the bone before I went to Ampthill last year. I was about to play for them but in the team run two days before the game I pulled my other hamstring. Then I pulled my hamstring again at the end of September, while I was with Rams.”
Toby recently made the move from National 1 side Rams to National 2 North side Hinckley due to a lack of game time.
He said: “They welcomed me with open arms, and I managed to score on my debut to win the game in the last minute.
