Young Gun: Matt Blandford – London Wasps back row
His training partner is Olympic discus finalist and former Wasps winger Lawrence Okoye, but where the 21-year-old British record holder eventually chose athletics, Blandford insists he still has time before making his own decision.
The 17-year-old from Tonbridge School has taken advantage of the start of the new U18 league this season, turning out for Wasps in their clashes with Bath and Saracens.
And while the trips from Kent to High Wycombe rack up the miles and as a result see him train back home on occasion, he admits the new league is a step up from what he’s done before.
He said: “The U18 league is brilliant for me, the quality of rugby is very high and really gives us the chance to develop. It’s especially good with my school only playing rugby in the first term, so it means I can keep working on it.
“I’m being kept busy this year, with the U18 league, but also I’ve started my AS-levels, I’m studying double maths, physics and PE, and then there is the discus as well.
“I train with Lawrence Okoye, and having done javelin, shot and discus, I’ve started to focus on the discus.
“The good thing is in terms of the training there is a lot of overlap. The fitness side of things and the strength work are important for both sports.
“In terms of the future I like to think I still have a couple of years before I have to make a choice.
“When I’m throwing the discus I think to myself that this is what I want to do, but as soon as I get a rugby ball in my hand, I think I want to play rugby.
“I’ll keep going with both for now and we’ll see how things go. One thing that was very special for me last year though, was getting to go along to watch Lawrence at the Olympics. I was there for his discus final, as well as the night of Mo Farah’s 5,000m win.
“I also got to carry the Olympic torch, which was very special. I was incredibly proud to get that opportunity in Dover.”
Blandford’s sporting ability clearly isn’t in doubt, the 17-year-old was Kent champion in the shot, discus and javelin back in 2009, a feat he repeated this year, having also picked up a national title in the discus.
Also captain of the Tonbridge hockey team, as well as of course the rugby team, he has been involved with Wasps since 2009.
Having come through the ranks with Middlesex, he has now set his sights on progressing from the England U16s squad into becoming an U17 regular.
He added: “I’ve been training with the U17s this season but at the moment we meet up about once a half-term.
“They are narrowing down the squad to the guys who play in the games soon, so I’m waiting to see if I’ll be involved with that.
“Of course with the U18s league I have that to focus on as well, but I really want to be back involved with England.
“The games with Wasps will definitely help that, but it is a little bit difficult because I’m based so far away.
“My old man drives me to training but I have to do a fair amount back at school. So although I’ve been involved with Wasps for four years, I don’t necessarily know the guys that well.
“That is where the new league is helping, and we’re getting up to speed now.”
