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Asher Opoku-Fordjour: 'You want to be the one that dominates'

By Liam Heagney reporting from Cape Town
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (centre) is congratulated after his try at the 2023 U20 Championship for England versus Ireland (Photo by Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images via World Rugby)

Joe Marler enjoys playing the fool but when it comes to the speciality of front row play, he is a character whose endorsements carry weight. It was last November, fresh out of a third-place finish with England at the Rugby World Cup when some jokey touchline analysis live on TNT Sports about Harlequins versus Sale in the Gallagher Premiership suddenly turned serious.

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“Do you not want any analysis? So there is a young tighthead that has come off the bench for Sale. He replaced James Harper in the warm-up, something like that… I have got a big thing about young, up-and-coming front-rowers. Fin Baxter for us… but this guy, No18, I like the look of.”

Marler is not alone in liking the look of Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Alex Sanderson, the youngster’s boss at the Sharks, is constantly singing the praises of his soon-to-be 20-year-old tighthead who enjoyed a breakthrough year at the Manchester club, making 11 Prem and Champions Cup appearances.

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But here’s the thing: Opoku-Fordjour is such a talented young buck that he swaps roles and also packs down at loosehead for the England U20s. He did so for last year’s fourth-place finish at the World Rugby U20 Championship and he is packing down in that role again this month with Mark Mapletoft’s team two from two at the 2024 tournament and poised to confirm semi-final qualification with Tuesday’s final group game against South Africa.

Ask Opoku-Fordjour which position he prefers to play in and the answer quickly arrives. “Tighthead. I have been doing it since I started playing prop and I feel like I have got a greater understanding of how to play tighthead so far. That is the main thing,” he told RugbyPass in the lobby of the England age-grade hotel in Cape Town, accommodation that comes with a twist over the next few days as they are sharing with the Junior Boks, their next Pool C opponents.

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“It only helps really (to play both sides of the scrum). You get a feeling of what it feels like at tighthead what you wouldn’t like to happen to you and vice-versa and once you feel it helps you play tighthead. But the only thing I would say is after you do it, play one side a while, it’s difficult to go straight over and have the same result. I feel like it takes some time, a couple of training sessions, to get back into the feeling of the position you are playing.”

There is a softly-spoken shyness about Opoku-Fordjour and yet he doesn’t hold back volunteering information. “It was an honour to hear from someone that you have grown up watching and see what he has done in the game. For him to say a couple of nice words about me was really nice,” he said about having Marler pump his tyres on live TV.

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Rugby has been quite the adventure so far for the promising front-rower. Just 21 months ago, the Wasps academy kid was told he being made redundant, that the club had gone kaput overnight. “I would say I am a pretty calm guy,” he suggested, reflecting on the unsettling October 2022 development.

“I was upset that I was leaving the boys, the coaches that taught me what they taught me and that was the main thing, the relationships that I built with everyone in such a short time. I felt calm. I wasn’t too worried. I didn’t have an agent at the time. My (now) agent got in touch with me and he is a pretty calm guy as well, so we worked through options and I ended up at Sale.”

Switching to Manchester was quite the change for the Coventry local but quickly sensed the vibe of the rugby set-up and was smitten. “I feel like it was a warming club. Like Opoku-Fordjour, when you walk into the building you feel like it’s almost like a home. I was comfortable there and I knew a couple of the boys as well from Souths vs North games and it just felt right. I’m glad I made the right decision.”

Sanderson was another factor. “Yeah, he made me feel comfortable and I could tell that he wanted to put trust into his younger players which not all coaches are willing to do. That was one of the main things.”

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What the switch initially meant was a change in Opoku-Fordjour’s National League apprenticeship. He had been out at Stourbridge while at Wasps, but Sale crowbarred him into Sedgley Tigers. This grassroots level tuition at both clubs was invaluable.

“When I first was at Wasps I was at Stourbridge and everyone was telling me it was going to be super physical, that it was hard but it wasn’t. Around the park wasn’t that hard. The main test of me was my scrum at tighthead and I learned a lot in a short period of time of what I need to do, what I need to do with my body and what I need to learn, the little things I need to know about scrumming.

“I can’t pinpoint a specific date but yeah, I know I felt I was under pressure loads of times in the scrum and it only helps you at that age, helps you learn and get a greater understanding of what you need to be doing.”

His on-loan education over, injuries gave Opoku-Fordjour his entry into Sanderson’s first-team plans. He thrived. The coach even claimed that his apprentice even gave Leinster and Ireland loosehead Andrew Porter a torrid time in Dublin last December. “I don’t know out taking out, I’ll held my own, held my own,” modestly reckoned Opoku-Fordjour, who went to explain what it is like as a 19-year-old rookie doing well at tighhead.

“It’s more of a pride thing personally, you don’t want to be the one that goes back. You want to be the one that dominates and I feel like that is the mentality I have when I am scrumming. Everyone should have that and most people do. You have just got to keep in the fight.

“I would say I am pretty calm; as I said before I am a pretty calm guy. If it’s like a game-winning scrum I will celebrate but other than that it’s your job, you have got to do it. But it is an amazing feeling being able to dominate someone in a scrum.”

There was one bad day at the office. “I can’t remember (his name) but at Stormers there was a loosehead I just couldn’t figure out and I didn’t know what to do. Yeah, that was a person that got under my skin a little bit,” he admitted.

“But at Sale there is so many experienced boys who are willing to help you and willing to go over stuff with you to make sure you get the best out of it. It might not be that exact moment where you get the fix but I am so young that I have got time to make mistakes and there is time to learn as well.”

Time to bulk up too. “Definitely, if I want to be a tighthead prop I have got to put on the weight. I have just got to put it on. I feel like by the end of this year hopefully I can get to 115kgs and them keep pushing from there. It’s not easy but I can do it.”

It was by chance that Opoku-Fordjour fell into the game. “I would say probably 10, 11. My dad is a big fan of sports, he watches a load of sports. I started to get bigger so he decided to take me (to Broadstreet RFC). He was watching the Six Nations or something and he decided to take me down to our local rugby club and from there I fell in love with it really.

“It was just tag at this point. It was just the beating of defenders, using your footwork, your pace, that is what I really enjoyed about it. And also I got to play with my brother as well. That was a pull factor. I wouldn’t say bigger (than the rest of the kids at the time), but I was pretty fast. I was pretty fast and had decent agility.”

A Ghanaian heritage family is Opoku-Fordjour’s driving force. “I feel like it [rugby] became serious for me when I decided to go to college. There is an ACE programme that most academies have links to and for Wasps it was City of Oxford College. I’m from Coventry so I had to move there. My mum had to pay for accommodation so in my head I was yeah, I have got to go for this now. I have got to make it.

“My family, we’re pretty tight knit. I have got three brothers as well so they all keep me on track, they keep me in check. My mum as well, she is always on me trying to see what I need, trying to get the best out me, so it’s definitely my family.”

His progress in the game resulted in a recent trip to Twickenham where he was given a rising star award at the Rugby Black List celebration. “It was a great feeling. Being a part of a minority community in the game, I feel like it’s important that I got the opportunity to get recognised in that community. It was a good feeling.”

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A post shared by Asher Opoku (@asheropoku_1)

So too was helping Sale follow up their 2023 Premiership final appearance by playing his part in getting them to last month’s semi-finals. “It has been a great feeling to be involved in it. Last year I was just watching it, I wasn’t really involved but this year I was in it.

“You can just see within the boys everyone wants to fight for each other. Everyone wants the best out of each other. It’s a great feeling and I am sure next season we will hopefully get something out of it. Sale is a club where when we are on we’re on and when we’re off we get the opportunity to chill and get close to each other and I feel like in tough moments in a game that stuff really helps and that stuff helps you get far.”

While his long-term goal is to go all the way and play for the British and Irish Lions and represent England at Test level, currently it’s about succeeding with is country’s U20s. “My mum is coming over for the third game and my dad is coming down as well,” he enthused about a Championship where, two rounds in, the odds have shortened on an England versus New Zealand final at DHL Stadium on July 19.

“It’s a very special team. Yeah, we like to focus on the steps rather than the end result. I believe we can win the World Cup. I don’t want to look too far ahead… but hopefully we can push on and do what we came here to do.”

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Comments

2 Comments
f
fl 59 days ago

Can we please have an article about Opoku-Fordjour that doesn't mention Marler?


1) it's just boring. It's every article about him. Tell us something new.


2) the fact that Marler said nice things about him isn't especially surprising. Opoku-Fordjour had already established himself as a really exciting prospect at the u20 world cup, and in the weeks following Marler's endorsement many people made similar observations.


3) the content of Marler's remarks wasn't especially interesting either. He basically just said that Opoku-Fordjour was good. That's not a level of analysis that anyone will find remotely enlightening.

L
Loosehead 59 days ago

Best of luck to the yung fella.the anchor of the scrum.🙂

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In the early months of 2025, I made a decision that would haunt me for weeks—a decision born out of greed and the allure of quick wealth. I invested 95,000 Bitcoin into an online platform that promised exponential returns. The website looked legitimate, the testimonials seemed convincing, and the numbers they presented were irresistible. But as the days passed, the platform went silent. My investment vanished, and I realized I had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. I was devastated, feeling like I had lost everything.Desperate for help, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I discovered *Galaxy Ethical Tech*, a company renowned for its expertise in blockchain forensics and digital asset recovery. Known for their ethical approach and cutting-edge technology, they had a track record of helping people like me recover lost funds. With nothing left to lose, I reached out to them, hoping for a miracle.The team at Galaxy Ethical Tech, led by a brilliant blockchain analyst named *Dr. Elena Voss*, responded immediately. Dr. Voss listened to my story with empathy and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. She explained that while the process would be complex and time-consuming, their advanced tools and expertise gave them a fighting chance.

The recovery process began with a deep dive into the blockchain. Using sophisticated algorithms, Galaxy Ethical Tech traced the movement of my Bitcoin. They identified the wallets where my funds had been transferred and uncovered a network of interconnected accounts designed to obscure the trail. The scammers had used multiple layers of transactions to launder the funds, but Dr. Voss and her team were relentless.Weeks turned into months, and the team kept me updated every step of the way. They worked tirelessly, navigating the labyrinth of the blockchain and collaborating with international authorities to freeze suspicious accounts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received the news I had been praying for: Galaxy Ethical Tech had successfully recovered *85,000 Bitcoin* of my lost funds. The remaining amount had been irretrievably laundered, but recovering the majority felt like a miracle.When the funds were securely returned to my wallet, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Dr. Voss and her team didn’t just recover my Bitcoin—they restored my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital world. They also provided me with invaluable advice on how to protect my assets in the future, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and secure storage solutions.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just save me from financial ruin; they gave me a second chance. Their commitment to ethical practices, combined with their unparalleled expertise, made them true heroes in my eyes. From that day forward, I became an advocate for their work, sharing my story as a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of technology used for good. Thanks to Galaxy Ethical Tech, what began as a nightmare ended with hope and a renewed sense of security. contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

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H
Hindi Urdu 1 hour ago
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In the early months of 2025, I made a decision that would haunt me for weeks—a decision born out of greed and the allure of quick wealth. I invested 95,000 Bitcoin into an online platform that promised exponential returns. The website looked legitimate, the testimonials seemed convincing, and the numbers they presented were irresistible. But as the days passed, the platform went silent. My investment vanished, and I realized I had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam. I was devastated, feeling like I had lost everything.Desperate for help, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I discovered *Galaxy Ethical Tech*, a company renowned for its expertise in blockchain forensics and digital asset recovery. Known for their ethical approach and cutting-edge technology, they had a track record of helping people like me recover lost funds. With nothing left to lose, I reached out to them, hoping for a miracle.The team at Galaxy Ethical Tech, led by a brilliant blockchain analyst named *Dr. Elena Voss*, responded immediately. Dr. Voss listened to my story with empathy and assured me they would do everything in their power to help. She explained that while the process would be complex and time-consuming, their advanced tools and expertise gave them a fighting chance.

The recovery process began with a deep dive into the blockchain. Using sophisticated algorithms, Galaxy Ethical Tech traced the movement of my Bitcoin. They identified the wallets where my funds had been transferred and uncovered a network of interconnected accounts designed to obscure the trail. The scammers had used multiple layers of transactions to launder the funds, but Dr. Voss and her team were relentless.Weeks turned into months, and the team kept me updated every step of the way. They worked tirelessly, navigating the labyrinth of the blockchain and collaborating with international authorities to freeze suspicious accounts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received the news I had been praying for: Galaxy Ethical Tech had successfully recovered *85,000 Bitcoin* of my lost funds. The remaining amount had been irretrievably laundered, but recovering the majority felt like a miracle.When the funds were securely returned to my wallet, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Dr. Voss and her team didn’t just recover my Bitcoin—they restored my faith in the possibility of justice in the digital world. They also provided me with invaluable advice on how to protect my assets in the future, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and secure storage solutions.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just save me from financial ruin; they gave me a second chance. Their commitment to ethical practices, combined with their unparalleled expertise, made them true heroes in my eyes. From that day forward, I became an advocate for their work, sharing my story as a cautionary tale and a testament to the power of technology used for good. Thanks to Galaxy Ethical Tech, what began as a nightmare ended with hope and a renewed sense of security. contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

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CV 2 hours ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

Yeah I know. Holland is from the area I live in. Him and his brother were at the rugby academy North West over here. You enter an academy here as soon as you go to high school (12) where you train 8 to 10 hours per week. They keep playing for their club on the weekends though, rugby is too small for club academies. Not enough players and money. Good thing is that you stay with your club so they don’t lose players. Top talent usually gets picked up by French clubs. The best of the rest go to the national training centre in Amsterdam where they have a professional set up.


Like everywhere in Europe, seasons run August to May and it’s all club driven. School sports don’t really exist like in NZ or the UK. Even the U7s and us oldies playing walking rugby play a full season. We just have more weeks off because of school holidays, or when the pitch is frozen. Like elsewhere in Europe, the league is a pyramid, so every club can make it to the top tier. Top clubs are semi-pro. Some clubs are part of the development programmes of French pro clubs, next to the six academies (for boys and girls) the union runs. It won’t surprise you that of the Dutch rep teams, about half of those groups play in France. It raised the bar. Players that don’t make it improve the level of the local league when they come back and the ones that do improve the national team. They beat Chile last November and are still in with a chance to make it to the WC in Australia. Women are in the WXV. Still tough because other REC countries, like Spain, Portugal and Belgium are getting better because they have similar setups as Holland does. Look up the REC game highlights on youtube, the level is pretty good.

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C
CV 3 hours ago
Where is the new breed of All Black 10?

These kids have been playing in leagues comparable to SR, not the NPC. The NPC is not even comparable to the ProD2. It’s too short, not as competitive and there are (usually) no test players in that comp. The Euro Cup is not a level up for top French sides and Leinster, it’s just a different comp. The SA sides that moved over to the URC all got eliminated from the Euro Cup by the way.


The evidence the NPC is not on par is in the U20 WC. SH sides haven’t won it since 2017. Our U20s got blown away by France when it mattered. Guys like Attisogbe, Gazzotti and Louis BB were in those sides. They were Top14 regulars at the time and are test players now. Many of the others play in the ProD2. In the Top 14 they play against teams that, looking at their roster, are test teams when at full strength. You don’t get that anywhere in NZ. Our players aren’t less talented, they just need to play at a level that really challenges them. The NPC is not it and SR is too short a comp.


Fin Smith is a world class 10 already and led Northampton to an English title at 21 and will get better. In Europe, in any sport, if you’re good enough, you play. Prendergast was a Leinster regular last year. Slowly took over from Byrne. He’s a test player and will be on the Lions tour this year.


NZ used to chuck talented youngsters in at the deep end in SR. Carter, McCaw and quite a few others from the 2011 and 2015 WC winning teams were in SR at 20, 21 and ABs a year later. I think we have talent but tough games where they are under some real pressure are few and far between.

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