'Scouted on Facebook' - 5 rugby players who took strange routes to become Internationals

But more often than not the distance from A to B takes a footballer via every letter of the alphabet. For these five players the journey to International rugby has been anything but routine.

The speedster was not picked up by any of the Welsh regional professional academies, and hence aged 16 started working as a trainee scaffolder at Port Talbot Steelworks, whilst continuing to play in his spare time. He was signed by Scarlets aged 20 and went onto become a star for club and country after making his Test debut in 2012.

Harlequins decided not to offer Launchbury a professional contract at 18, which led to the lock signing for then National League 2 South side Worthing in 2009 and getting a part time job in Sainsbury's. His performances at that level led to him getting a trial at Wasps where he eventually won a full-time deal. He's since gone onto captain the black and golds while establishing himself as an England regular.

Flament was playing fly-half in the fifth team of England's Loughborough University five years ago but on Saturday the 6ft 8in second-row was the toast of Paris after his excellent score broke through a determined Puma defence early in the second half.

Mustachioed man mountain propl Tu'inukuafe has gone from 27-stone nightclub bouncer to Test tyro. He only made his Super Rugby debut lain 2018 but has already racked up 24 caps for the All Blacks.

He was scouted playing amateur rugby by the Tongan coaches on Facebook after an injury crisis at hooker in 2019 and was suddenly thrust into the starting XV to face New Zealand. Prior to his World Cup call-up, he served as a roofer in Christchurch.