Rob Carmichael has come a long way since first discovering rugby in Hong Kong, but is hoping his “adaptability” will help his improvement further.
Carmichael, 19, made his first start for England‘s U20s in a disappointing defeat against France, but it’s been a whirlwind year for the young giant which has been filled with new challenges.
“I didn’t get too many minutes in the Premiership Cup this year but the experience of it was really good,” he added. “The pressure of proper professional gamedays was great to learn about.
“I’m just getting so much out of the whole playing experience and it’s been great to be in and around of the England U20s squad with loads of players who have also played in the Prem Cup.
“I think my biggest strength is my adaptability, which has served me well up to now, but I still have a lot of goals in the international set up and want to see how far I can push with Leicester.”
Carmichael possibly cites his adaptability because of the experience of starting rugby in Hong Kong, which in addition to different conditions also had a less technical emphasis on the set piece.
He added: “I always wanted to become a professional rugby player. After growing up in Hong Kong and then coming to the UK, I was obviously a bit behind and I had a lot to learn but I got there eventually.
“Hong Kong was a very different environment to the UK. Obviously it was a lot warmer down there and I’m still getting used to the freezing, rainy, muddy conditions. I don’t know if I ever will!
“Rugby was a big thing out there, because obviously you get a lot of expats including from Australia and New Zealand so it was a great place to start, and I was able to when I was four years old.
“When I first moved back I didn’t know all that much about the finer details of rugby. I didn’t really know much about the lineout and set-piece but I learned from everyone around me and it’s going really well now.”
At 6ft 10in, it became clear from an early age that Carmichael wouldn’t be able to play in the backs, as he had wanted to initially.
Now in a natural position in second row, he can see both help and hindrances to his height, but he overall remains optimistic that it has been an advantage.
“I was absolutely desperate to play in the backs and played fly-half for a bit but I kept growing taller and getting slower so I had to make my way up into the second row.
“My height has given me a lot of advantages, especially around the set piece and in the lineout but it also comes with a lot of challenges, particularly in the tackle height but it’s something I’ve always had to do so I’m pretty use to it.
“I do get a lot of stares and I’m taller than most doors which is a bit of a nuisance but I wouldn’t change it, it’s pretty great and useful on the pitch.”
