Ellis Genge

2.1. Childhood and Education

Ellis Genge was born in Bristol, England, and grew up on the Knowle West council estate. He received his education at John Cabot Academy. Outside of rugby, Genge is an avid supporter of Bristol Rovers F.C. football club.

2.2. Early Rugby Career

Genge started playing rugby at the age of twelve with the Old Redcliffians club, initially playing in the back row. At the age of sixteen, he transferred to Hartpury College, where he notably captained their rugby team to a victory in the AASE league. He represented England at various youth levels, from Under-17 to Under-20. According to Genge, his transition to the front row position as a prop was initially suggested by former England youth coach Bobby Walsh, primarily as an additional option, but this eventually evolved into a permanent career change. During these early years, Genge was recognized as an exceptional player, posing a significant challenge to many opposing teams.

3.1. Bristol (First Stint)

Genge joined his hometown club, Bristol, at the age of eighteen. He was persuaded to switch from the back row to the prop position by the offer of a two-year contract from the club. During the 2014-2015 season, he was loaned to Clifton to play loosehead prop in the National League 2 South, where he started thirteen games and made one appearance as a substitute. In the same season, he also signed a dual-registration deal with Plymouth Albion, playing two matches for them.

His professional debut for Bristol took place on December 8, 2013, in the British and Irish Cup against the Scottish team Gala RFC, a game in which he scored a try during a 62-7 victory. Genge's first league appearance in the RFU Championship was on September 26, 2014, against London Scottish. He was also a member of the England Under-20 squad that successfully won the 2015 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. Later that year, he started for the Under-20 side that finished as runners-up, losing to New Zealand in the final of the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship. Across his initial spell at Bristol, Genge made 26 appearances.

3.2. Leicester Tigers

Ellis Genge captured the attention of Richard Cockerill and moved to Leicester Tigers on loan in February 2016. This transfer was partly influenced by off-field issues, including an arrest following an away game against Ulster in 2015. He made his Leicester debut as a substitute against Wasps on March 12, 2016, replacing Marcos Ayerza. His first start for the club came on May 7, 2016, against Bath at the Rec. His loan move to Leicester was made permanent on May 26, 2016.

Genge quickly established himself as a key player for Leicester, becoming a regular in the 2016-17 season and playing a club-leading 31 matches. During this campaign, he started in the final of the 2016-17 Anglo-Welsh Cup, which Leicester won by defeating Exeter Chiefs. His exceptional performance led to him being named the club's Young Player of the Year and receiving the Premiership Discovery of the Season Award. On December 2, 2017, Genge suffered a shoulder injury in a league match against Wasps. After a four-month recovery period, he returned to the starting lineup on April 7, 2018, against Bath in a match held at Twickenham Stadium.

3.3. Return to Bristol Bears

On December 15, 2021, it was officially confirmed that Ellis Genge would depart Leicester in the summer of 2022 to rejoin his former club, Bristol Bears. The announcement video for his return sparked some controversy among fans. Genge publicly stated that a significant factor in his decision was the desire to be closer to his family and the ability to see them regularly. He revealed that the COVID-19 lockdowns had prompted him to re-evaluate his personal priorities, which ultimately influenced his choice to return to Bristol.

4.1. England Senior Team Debut

In May 2016, Ellis Genge received his first call-up to the senior England squad from coach Eddie Jones, an impressive achievement given he had only made one start for Leicester at that time. He made his international debut on May 29, 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute during England's 27-13 victory against Wales at Twickenham Stadium. Although Genge was included in the squad for the 2016 England rugby union tour of Australia, he was not utilized in any of the matches. At the end of the season, with key players Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola selected for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, Genge earned his first start for England during their tour of Argentina.

4.2. Rugby World Cup Appearances

Ellis Genge scored his first international try in a warm-up game for the 2019 Rugby World Cup against Italy at St James' Park. He was subsequently selected for his first World Cup, making two substitute appearances during the pool stage matches against Tonga and USA. Genge did not participate in the knockout phase of the tournament, where England ultimately finished as runners-up, losing to South Africa in the final. He was also selected as part of the England squad for the Rugby World Cup 2023.

4.3. Major Contributions and Recognition

Since 2020, Ellis Genge has established himself as a regular starter for the England team, making significant contributions. He scored the winning try against Scotland during the 2020 Six Nations Championship. Following a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, he came off the bench in the final round of the competition, as England defeated Italy to secure the tournament title. Genge started for England when they beat France in extra time to win the Autumn Nations Cup. In July 2021, he scored a try against Canada.

Genge was included in the squad for the 2022 England rugby union tour of Australia and scored a try in the first test match, which England narrowly lost 30-28. He played a prominent role during the second test victory in Brisbane and again started in the decisive final match, as England defeated Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground to win the series. On November 21, 2022, Genge received significant individual recognition when he was named in World Rugby's team of the year as the best loosehead prop. As of November 2022, Ellis Genge had earned 41 caps for the England national team.

8.1. List of international tries