20 Questions: Evan Olmstead – Newcastle lock

Enjoyed the European fortnight?
I’m not in the Challenge Cup squad so the past couple of weeks gave me a chance to nurse some knocks but also do some extra fitness. Lots of fun!
Would you rather be playing?
It’s a bit of mixed bag really because it’s nice to have some rest during the season to let your body recover but at the same time you enjoy playing.
How intense has the season been for you?
The European Cup weekends have actually been the only time off I had between the Premiership and the autumn internationals with Canada.
Ten Premiership starts already this season?
I thought it’d take longer to break into the team but things have gone my way since I joined from London Scottish this summer.
What do you put it down to?
The summer Tests with Canada gave me some fitness going into pre-season. It put me in good stead and helped me get picked in the warm-up games with Newcastle.
How’s your body coping with the training load at Falcons?
I’ve always trained hard whether it was on my own or with my previous teams. So I was quite used to it but the S&C coaches are very good here and the structure helps me out.
Targets for the end of the year?
Hopefully, I can get involved in the Anglo-Welsh Cup next week to give myself the best chance of retaining my spot in the team when the Premiership resumes.
How about the Falcons’ season?
The official line is that we’re looking to finish in the Top Six but I don’t see why we can’t have a go at making it to the semi-finals. A lot of the guys are saying that it’s the best environment around the club for a long time and we’ve already won more games than we did last season.
Most pleasing thing so far?
We have a very physical pack and we’ve only conceded one try from a maul all season. It lays a very good platform for our backs to burst into life after that and do some damage.
Where can you improve?
We need to keep our accuracy levels up because if we want to compete against the best you can never switch off. One missed tackle usually means a try.
What do you take from your season at Scottish?
It gave me my first taste of English rugby. It’s all about being a grafter as a forward here and to be honest it suits me. I’m definitely a grafter rather than a highlight player.
What about Canada?
We’ll play against Romania and Georgia this summer before going into a double header against the USA which will be a World Cup qualifier. If we win the Series we’ll go to Japan in 2019.
What’s the state of Canadian rugby?
The new coach Mark Anscombe is doing a great job and he’s already planning for the World Cup. The federation has started to pay the players who are not professionals to train full-time. It’s moving in the right direction.
Where does your strong Aussie accent come from?
I was born in Canada but moved to Australia when I was three. I’m a proud Canadian, though, and I’ve been playing for them since 2011 with the U20s.
How far did you go in Australia?
I was in the mix for the Waratahs under Michael Foley. They took the best club players to train with them and I was in the last two with Peter Betham. They gave Peter a contract and told me I’d probably get signed the following year but Michael got sacked and that was that.
If not rugby, what would you be doing?
I was working in finance in Canada but I quit in the lead-up to the last World Cup. It was a gamble as I wasn’t sure I’d make the squad but it paid off and I haven’t looked back since.
Favourite cheat meal?
I’m getting better but I used to eat a lot of fries.
Three dinner guests?
Michael Jordan, Winston Churchill and Eminem.
Best and worst banter at Falcons?
John Welsh the best but Mouritz Botha is definitely the worst.
Best and worst dressed?
Alex Tait and Rob Vickers take worst but I’ll give best to Mike Delany.