Young Gun: Jacob Atkins – London Irish fly-half
Being a key member of the U18s team that won the Premiership title in 2016, the young playmaker was promoted to the senior academy but the step up to senior rugby proved more difficult than first thought.
Aside from the physical requirements, it was the mental pressure that was dragging Atkins, 19, down. But it all changed mid-season when the Exiles brought in psychologist Mike Roberts.
“Last year was really tough at the start but as the season went on I felt better and better,” he told The Rugby Paper. “By the end of it I felt like I was actually able to make an impact on the team and control things as the fly-half.
“I worked a lot with the coaches as well as Tommy Bell, James Marshall and Greig Tonks but the person who maybe helped me the most was Mike.
“It was really hard mentally to go from being the best in your age group to struggling to even train with men in the first team. It took me a while to adapt.
“You’re under so much more pressure in professional rugby and mistakes can have a big impact on the club as a whole.
“I used to be really self-conscious about making mistakes and it got me down.
“But we have that saying with Mike now of, ‘love your mistakes’.
“Any player will always make mistakes but you just have to move on and get on with the next job. No-one is going to give me that ball back so don’t dwell on it.
“My performances shot up after that and I pushed hard for game time in the B&I Cup and ultimately I made my Championship debut against Cornish Pirates.”
Atkins was able to get the experience he needs playing in National Two South last season with Redingensians and he is now looking to make the step up to National One as well as working with the Exiles’ new star signings next season.
He added: “Playing for Redingensians was brilliant because it allowed me to play week-in week-out. It’s my local club, too.
“It really helped the transition to senior rugby. It might only be the fourth division but the physicality is still there. Regardless of the league, there’s always an 18st forward looking to get his hands on a fly-half fresh out of school.
“It was good for me to boss older players around and it gave me a lot of confidence on how to manage a game. You can train as much as you want but can never replicate matchday situation so I’m grateful to Redingensians.
“I’ll be playing for Rosslyn Park in National One next season but I’m also looking to play for Irish in the first team in the A-League, Anglo-Welsh and Challenge Cups.
“I’ve seen the signings we’ve made and as a fly-half, I can’t wait to get to know Napolioni Nalaga and Luke McLean.
“Making the bench for a Premiership game would be a dream.”
