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Turning the Tide: How a Kiwi Farmer Became a Rising Star in England’s Rugby Union Team
Published: 22:31 BST, 2 March 2024 | Updated: 00:46 BST, 3 March 2024
Three years ago, Chandler Cunningham-South’s world was a far cry from the bright lights of international rugby union. Hailing from a small farm in Wellsford, New Zealand, the 20-year-old flanker has undergone a remarkable journey to become a recognizable face among the stars of the England national rugby union team.
Cunningham-South’s rugby union odyssey began on the Hibiscus Coast Highway, where his father, Richard, coached him through the ranks at Silverdale RFC. “It is off the grid,” the young player reflects, “There’s not much service round there. It’s just cattle and stuff. It is not a working farm, they just live off the land. They eat the cows, chickens, eggs — it’s cool.”
Despite his laid-back country upbringing, Cunningham-South’s raw physicality and talent caught the eye, and he soon found himself in the university rugby union circuit, making a name for himself by “busting his way through tackles in age-grade matches.”
The break Cunningham-South had been waiting for came when his highlight reel landed in the inbox of London Irish coach Jonathan Fisher, who promptly signed the 6ft 4in forward to the club’s academy. Leaving his Kiwi roots behind, the young player made an immediate impact, earning a promotion to the senior ranks and a call-up to the England Under-20 squad.
“It all happened pretty quickly,” Cunningham-South recalls. “It was a weird time because it was Covid when I came over. I caught Covid straight away and I just thought, ‘Oh, what am I doing?’ But once I got rid of the Covid and got into training, I knew I made the right decision.”
The Kiwi accent may have faded, but Cunningham-South’s impact on the field has only grown stronger. With his towering frame and relentless physicality, the flanker has quickly become a valuable asset for the England national rugby union team, filling the void left by the retirement of Courtney Lawes.
“Twickenham is an awesome place to play,” the young player enthuses. “You don’t actually realise how big the stadium is until you are on the field looking up. It doesn’t seem to stop. It’s awesome. So loud, so passionate, it’s a real cool place to play.”
As Cunningham-South prepares to face his toughest assignment yet against Ireland, the rugby union world eagerly awaits to see how this rising star from a New Zealand farm will continue to make his mark on the international stage.
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