Joel Kpoku

Joel Awanka S. Kpoku (born 22 June 1999)^[1] is an English-born Congolese rugby union lock for Lyon in the French Top 14

Joel Kpoku

Birth name	Joel Awanka S. Kpoku
Date of birth	(1999-06-23) 23 June 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth	London Borough of Newham, London, England
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	17 st 13 lb (114 kg)
School	Ashmole Academy
University	Oaklands College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Current team Lyon Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2017–2018 → Old Albanians 2 (5) 2018–2019 → Ampthill 2 (5) 2018–2021 Saracens 9 (20) 2021– Lyon 0 (0) Correct as of 8 May 2019 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2018–2019 England U20s 15 (10) Correct as of 8 May 2019

Kpoku began playing rugby at school and joined rugby league side London Skolars at 12 years old.^[2] He then joined Saracens Amateur RFC in 2013 before being selected to join Saracens academy at under-17s.^[2] Joel impressed Saracens whilst studying at Oaklands College as a member of the Oaklands Wolves Rugby Academy, In 2016 Kpoku toured South Africa with Saracens Amateurs U17 team. He was called up for full England training in August 2018 after impressing in the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.^[3]

In February 2019 he was short listed for the Premiership Rugby Cup Breakthrough Player Award.^[4]

He committed his immediate future to Saracens in 2020 in a two-year deal that would see him promoted from the senior academy to the first team.^[5]

However, on 19 November 2021, Kpoku left Saracens with immediate effect to move to France to join Lyon in the Top 14 from the 2021-22 season.^[6] Kpoku is said to have congolese heritage.^[7]

References

1. "Joel Kpoku ESPN profile". Retrieved 8 May 2019.
2. "Hotshot: Saracens and England U20 lock Joel Kpoku". Rugby World. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
3. "Chris Ashton: Sale winger named in England squad for first time since 2016". BBC. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
4. "Premiership Rugby Cup Breakthrough Player Award: James Grayson of Northampton Saints". Rugby Wrap Up. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
5. "Joel Kpoku commits future to Sarries". Saracens. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
6. "BREAKING: Saracens star confirms move to Lyon". Ruck.co.uk. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
7. "'I was kind of lost in the rugby world, my name had gone quiet'". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 28 June 2022.