EXETER University top try scorer Isaiah Akpovwa hopes his efforts in the fourth tier can earn him a return to boyhood club Blackheath.
The London-born winger scored a brace of tries in last weekend’s impressive victory over Luctonians to take his tally to five touchdowns in just seven games.
Akpovwa, 20, is revelling in the close-knit environment at Exeter Uni as the club look to put their shaky start to the season behind them as they target a top-half finish.
He told The Rugby Paper: “We’re always pushing forward but we’re only halfway through the season with many games left to go. One of the advantages we have in being a university club is the real strength-in-depth.
“I imagine most clubs would have a limited number of players available but we at Exeter can get up to 40 players available. So, if we have an injury the quality of our players will still be very high as well. Anything can happen in the second half of the season but we’re starting to find our feet now that we’ve got our first win of the year.”
Exeter Uni came into this weekend in 11th and, after being with the team for two years, Akpovwa believes that due to the team being a university side the camaraderie goes deeper than a regular club set-up.
He said: “The community and camaraderie is different to what you’d get out of a normal men’s club I guess because you’re going to university and seeing every day the people that you train and play with. There’s a different vibe and feel at my club, seeing the boys around getting to know them in different ways both on and off the pitch.”
Akpovwa’s passion for rugby started at school and, thanks to the encouragement of his parents, Eso and Margaret, the 6ft winger aspires to return to his first club Blackheath in National One and continue to develop.
“Rugby was the sport of my secondary school, and our school coach picked up something in me and really pushed for me to work at my game,” said Akpovwa.
“He was playing for Blackheath at the time and he started to refer me to the club. I went along to watch the games before eventually starting playing for them. Eventually, I got recognised by the right people, going through the county set-up and I went on to play for Kent and was invited to play at the Saracens youth setup whilst I was still at school. I rose through the ranks of rugby, playing in various divisions, and my personal goal would be to return to my home club and National One.”
The balance is perfect for Akpovwa who is combining rugby and continuing his education in finance, and the free scoring flyer hopes to follow in the footsteps of his icon Waisale Serevi.
He added: “I just like his step, and when I was younger I was able to replicate it perfectly. Before a game I’d watch clips of him to get myself riled up and in the zone before we went out onto the field. Serevi was always the player I found myself gravitating towards.”
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