After a meteoric rise from nowhere to starring for Italy at the World Cup, Jake Polledri now has his sights set on lifting silverware for Gloucester.
Polledri’s march to prominence belies his humble beginning
at Dings Crusaders and Hartpury College. However, after rubbing shoulders with
100-cap Italians like Sergio Parisse, Alessandro Zanni and Leonardo Ghiraldini
over the last 18 months, the former Colston’s schoolboy is determined to take
his game to the next level.
Polledri said: “The World Cup was a crazy experience and Japan was the best country to have it because of the energy the fans created. To be part of it was a dream come true.
“Learning from people like Parisse, Zanni and Ghiraldini has
been magnificent. They were massive influences on me and it’s been an amazing
journey in my career so far.
“From Hartpury to getting into Gloucester’s academy, playing
in a Challenge Cup final, making my Six Nations debut, playing in the Champions
Cup and now a World Cup, it’s gone from zero to 100 and I’m just hitting my
peak.”
Polledri, 24, added: “The challenge now, and for every
international player, is about maintaining your level. You look at the world’s
best players and they maintain their performance and consistency that people
expect week-on-week.
“It’s about the pressure of delivering that and also
enjoying it, that’s the biggest thing – and I’m definitely enjoying it at
Gloucester.”
Having last won a trophy in 2015, Gloucester are desperate
to end their drought.
Polledri said: “We’ve had a hiccup in the league but beating
Connacht last week put us back on track and there’s a positive mindset.
“There’s a lot we can build on to get back into the top four. It’s been a long time since Gloucester won any silverware and that’s something we’ll be striving hard to achieve.”
NEALE HARVEY