Player Profile Wijand Wormhoudt ‘DUTCHY’ AGE – 19HEIGHT – 1.90mWEIGHT – 90kgPOSITION – utility forward

What teams have you played for before joining Bristol Ruby Academy?Bristol Academy is actually the first team that I have played for, although during the summer months I played for BristolSonics, who are a local team here in Bristol. I had trials yesterday for the Gloucester Argyles, which are a new semi professional team down in Gloucester, which I hope to be successful in and I find out later this week.

What is the best game you’ve played in?I think that is going to my Dutch international game. I represented Holland last August. I was the captain and I played at number 13, loose forward. It was a really good game and I think that must be my best one.

How often do you train?For the Academy I train two days a week, on a Monday and on a Friday. I also try to fit in my own sessions. On a Monday night I do an extra fitness hour with one of England’s best fitness coaches, I try to work out as much as I can.

Who is your rugby hero? There are a couple of players who play for Leeds rhinos, which the academy is linked with, who I really look up to. For example, Jamie Peacock and Jamie Jones-Buchanan. They are some of the best props in the world. They are definitely my idols.

What is your dream team who you would like to play for? At the moment I have had trials for All Gold’s, it would be a really big step up for me to play for a team like that. One team I would really like to play for would be Leeds Rhino’s; they are a big team that I look up to. There are a couple of teams down in Australia who are obviously very high up, which I wouldn’t mind having a crack at but it is a very high standard.

How did you come to be studying and playing in England? I came here 3 years ago to play for the rugby union academy; I used to play second row in rugby union. I did that for a year until I turned 18, because once you’re over 18 you can’t play for the Academy every week. At this point they started up the rugby league academy that plays universities, which is open age, so I swapped to rugby league.

How many tries have you scored in this season?For college I have scored 5 tries and for the Sonics I have scored between 5 and 10 tries. I don’t score many tries because of my position, I’m a forward, we do all the hard work and then the backs snatch up all the tries.

From Holland to England, from rugby union to rugby league, we catch up with one of Filton Rugby Academy’s leading forwards.

What is your dream team who you would like to play for? At the moment I have had trials for All Gold’s, it would be a really big step up for me to play for a team like that. One team I would really like to play for would be Leeds Rhino’s; they are a big team that I look up to. There are a couple of teams down in Australia who are obviously very high up, which I wouldn’t mind having a crack at but it is a very high standard.

How did you come to be studying and playing in England? I came here 3 years ago to play for the rugby union academy; I used to play second row in rugby union. I did that for a year until I turned 18, because once you’re over 18 you can’t play for the Academy every week. At this point they started up the rugby league academy that plays universities, which is open age, so I swapped to rugby league. How was the transition from union to league?I took some time to adjust, the rules are a little bit different and the fitness level is a lot higher so it took a bit of getting used to.

How did you find the transition from playing in Holland to playing in England?It was a massive step up, the international ranking of rugby union in Holland is about 40th in the world and England is in the top 5. So it was a big step up, especially being here at Filton Academy, which is one of the best teams in the country, there was a big change in the level of play.

If rugby wasn’t to work out for whatever reason, what would you end up doing?If I go back before I came here, I always wanted to join the military police. If I didn’t come to England I think that is what I would be doing right now, for now though I am not sure. Along side my rugby I am doing coaching and gym qualifications, so I would probably pursue something like that.

How do you prepare for a game?I always start with a good night sleep and a good meal before I get ready, leading up to the game I just try to get myself focused. On game day I always just try to stay relaxed and try not to get stressed because that will just make me nervous and burn a lot of energy. Also things like drinking a lot of water, having a protein shake in the morning and eating enough. Then an hour before the game starts the headphones go on, I listen to my music and zone out.

Where do you see your self 5 years time?Ideally I would hope to get a professional contract, training everything day and living where ever that contract may be. Ultimately playing professional rugby league is the goal.