2. Jake Polledri – Italy
The Azzurri’s enigmatic back-rower qualifies to play for Italy through his Grandparents. Polledri was born and raised around Bristol, and won the 2009 National School 7s Tournament with The Downs Preparatory School.
Polledri then progressed through to Colston’s School and Filton College, which took him to make his debut for Bristol Rugby in the Aviva Premiership Rugby A League.
Before Bristol had entered their Bears era, and clawed their way into becoming Gallagher Premiership mainstays, Polledri gained valuable experience within the developmental side. The flanker then made the change to West Country rivals Hartpury RFC, and was an integral part in their 2016/17 promotional season into the RFU Championship. Polledri soon caught the attention of Gloucester Rugby, and won the Young Player of the Season Award for the 2017/18 Premiership Season.
Polledri wasted no time in achieving his international recognition, as he represented Italy U20s at the 2014 IRB Junior Championships. Unlike Italian and English dual qualified star Paolo Odogwu, Polledri never entertained the idea of ‘wearing the rose’, and jumped head first into representing Italy. He has been apart of the young and dynamic Italian side since 2018, and made his debut in the narrow 29-27 loss to Scotland in that year’s Guinness Six Nations.
Polledri had an exceptional 2019 Rugby World Cup, and set a new record for defenders beaten by a forward in a competition. Polledri beat 27 defenders in just three pool stage matches, and made World Rugby’s ‘Team of the Pool Stages’ for the competition.
The 27-year-old will be heading to Italy after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, as he has agreed a move to join Zebre Parma, ahead of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season.
