Chandler Cunningham-South is hoping to fly off to Portugal on holiday in just over a week's time as an U20 World Cup winner before starting the next chapter in his career, at new club Harlequins.
Cunningham-South has been England's main ball carrier at the U20 World Championship and put in a man of the match performance – despite earning his first yellow card since his university days – in the 22-22 draw with Australia on Tuesday that secured a place in today's semi-final against top seeds France.
England's second draw in three matches – and only the third ever in 13 tournaments – was just enough to edge out New Zealand for the best runners-up spot and keep alive their hopes of becoming champions for the first time since 2016.
“That was everyone's goal flying out here and I guess we're just taking it game by game to see how we go,” said the bruising No.8, who was born in south-east England but raised in New Zealand.
Cunningham-South could quite easily have been a member of the disappointed Junior All Blacks squad instead of being two wins away from becoming a world champion.
“I was born in England and then moved to New Zealand with my family when I was four, grew up there and then I came back for an opportunity with London Irish when I was 18,” he said, explaining his route into rugby and then England.
“I lived in Auckland and then went to school in Hamilton and then moved back up to Auckland to go to Westlake Boys for my last two years, which is where I became close mates with (Junior All Black) Caleb Tangitau.
“He has been over at our hotel and I have been over to their hotel, so it's been good to catch up, and I know Che Clark through him as well. I went to Hamilton Boys until Year 11 so I know some of those boys too, but not as well as Caleb.”
To say he is among friends is also a nod to where his name comes from, after one of the lead characters Chandler Bing in Friends, the blockbuster TV show, although it is still the matter of some debate in the family.
“It's different depending on who I ask. I think it is from the TV show if I am being honest, my parents did use to call me Bing as well when I was growing up. So I think it may be from that but they deny it!”
While the Friends character had a job that no one knew or understood, there is no doubting Cunningham-South's role in this England U20 team.
At 6ft 4in and 120kgs (18st 9lbs), he has a huge presence and wins the gain line battle time and time again as well as having good hands to link up in broken-field attack.
Securing a move to Harlequins after Irish went bust, on the eve of departure to Cape Town, has allowed Cunningham-South to play with freedom out in South Africa. And while the soft grounds might not be to his liking – he refuses to wear anything more than 11mm studs – he has served notice to Quins fans what he is all about.
“I made sure I signed it (the contract) the day before I left, just to make sure I was covered and I could go with a clear head, which was good,” he said, reflecting on one of the most stressful periods of his young and otherwise carefree life.
Cunningham-South has a trip to the Algarve and Lisbon and a couple of days in Ibiza planned post-U20s before returning to the UK to start his Quins career.
Having gone from one free-scoring club to another appealed to the Sidcup-born player.
“They play an exciting brand as well so that's why it is hopefully going to be a smooth transition,” he said. “The way they are, the poachers and stuff, it has sort of made me feel very comfortable and just excited for a new opportunity.
“I feel like the squad next year is looking very strong and big things can happen next year for that team and I want to be a part of that.”
With Alex Dombrandt, left, very much in the frame for the World Cup, Cunningham-South is likely to get the opportunity to build on the 20 Premiership appearances he made for Irish in a breakthrough season.
But he is also looking forward to the time when the two of them will be training together and competing for the No.8 jersey.
“I think having a player like that to learn from and pick his brains is going to be cool. He likes to carry the ball a lot as well and offload, so there are similarities to our game.”
