Joe Ajuwa (born 25 January 1983) is a

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

player currently playing for

London Welsh London Welsh Rugby Football Club () was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons, after gaining promotion from ...

. Ajuwa was born in

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, Nigeria and moved to the UK with his family (which includes nine brothers and three sisters) in 1994. He first played rugby at school in Bath then played for English students while he was at university. His childhood rugby hero was Jonah Lomu. Brothers Daniel and Shadrack Ajuwa have played for Bristol RFC. Described as being a strong and powerful winger, Ajuwa has had previously had spells with

London Welsh RFC London Welsh Rugby Football Club () was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons, after gaining promotion from ...

and

Richmond RFC Richmond Rugby Club is a rugby union club in Richmond, London, England. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs (of any code). It fields teams in both men's and women's rugby; the men's firs ...

. During the 2009–2010 season, Ajuwa played 25 games for Llandovery scored an impressive 11 tries. He also broke into the Scarlets team that season, first appearing against Ulster in the

Celtic League The Celtic League is a pan-Celtic organization, founded in 1961, that aims to promote modern Celtic identity and culture in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Cornwall and the Isle of Man – referred to as the Celtic nations; it places pa ...

. On 15 June 2010, Ajuwa signed a professional development contract with the Scarlets. Ajuwa was awarded his contract after being nominated as Principality Player of the Year by the

Welsh Rugby Union The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; ) is the governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running of rugby in Wales, overseeing 320 member clu ...

for his performances with

Llandovery RFC Llandovery RFC () is a Welsh rugby union club based in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The club is an inaugural member of the Welsh Rugby Union, currently play in the Super Rygbi Cymru and is a feeder club for the Scarlets, a Pro14 club. L ...

. Ajuwa said he was eager to get fully immersed into the senior Scarlets squad and looking forward to the challenge. He continued to add, He said: "I'm really pleased to be signed up with the Scarlets now full-time and just look forward to the challenge ahead and working hard in pre-season to get myself in great shape. I know I need to work on the finer points of my game and I'm looking forward to being part of the Scarlets squad next season. "Although I had some time with them last season, I'm new to the Scarlets mix and have plenty to learn from the guys around me – from simple things like the game language and team culture to the technical dynamics within the Scarlets environment. It's a great set-up, a really good bunch of guys and there's a good atmosphere within the squad. I'm really looking forward to be part of that next season and I'm eager to impress so will be do all I can to learn quickly. "I've been enjoying my time in this part of the world, the Scarlets have great supporters who are really passionate about their rugby and I've been made to feel really welcome." Ajuwa is currently playing for English Championship side

. Joe Ajuwa is currently on a short-term loan to Rosslyn Park.

References

External links

Llandovery Profile

Scarlets Profile

London Welsh Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajuwa, Joe 1983 births Living people Alumni of St Mary's University, Twickenham Llanelli RFC players Llandovery RFC players London Welsh RFC players Nigerian emigrants to the United Kingdom Nigerian rugby union players Rugby union wings Scarlets players Sportspeople from Lagos