After signing a fresh deal at Kingsholm last week, Gloucester Rugby’s Val Rapava-Ruskin became the club's latest centurion on Friday evening against Harlequins.

The Georgian-born prop has come a long way since starting out at Blackheath at seven years old.

“I started playing rugby at the oldest club in the world, Blackheath. Growing up in London, it’s more of a football area, but my father was a rugby player, so I started when I was seven or eight and scored a try with my first touch and that’s when I fell in love with rugby.”

As a 15-year-old, Rapava-Ruskin went back to Georgia, it was there that the loosehead realised that he could take his rugby ambitions further.

“I was the youngest player to play in the Georgian Prem, at 15 I was playing against these fully grown men, and I learnt about the sacrifices you need to make and how much you have to give to be involved. Once I got accustomed to what rugby is really about, I never looked back.

“The boys there didn’t really come from a big financial background, but they loved the work and being around each other and they appreciate what they have, and I think that’s what rugby is all about.”

Rapava-Ruskin signed for the Cherry & Whites in 2017 from neighbours Worcester.

“I enjoyed my time at Worcester and we were certainly improving but I reached a point where I wanted a fresh challenge and a place to improve. Gloucester had a lot of experienced players I looked up to and I knew I could take a from them. If you are willing to work hard and want to improve, it's exactly the place to be.

“The club means everything to me, This is where I really found my feet in the game.”

Whilst talking about the club, Billy Twelvetrees, another Cherry & Whites centurion wandered past and Val says he’s learnt a great deal from experienced players like Billy.

“There’s Billy, another dinosaur! He’s one of the boys I’ve learnt a lot from.

“My biggest take from rugby and my most successful trait is I can learn a lot from everyone. It doesn’t matter where they come from or who they are, Everyone brings something to the field, even off the field, and that’s the template of my career, to learn as much as possible.”

Rapava-Ruskin also praised head coach, George Skivington, for the impact he’s had on his career.

“George has worked with me very closely. We’ve learnt how to get the best out of me in terms of playing smart, utilising energy and cutting out mistakes. I think a successful athlete in any sport is an athlete that can learn from anyone and if you have that mindset then you can improve as an athlete and a person.”

After six years and 100 appearances at the club, Val has some special memories. But he says it’s the people that make the club special.

“Getting to the Challenge Cup final was amazing, as a prop you don’t often get the glory moments, you appreciate the battles a lot more.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play with some greats, Tom Savage, John Afoa and Jeremy Thrush amongst others, and the boys today like Louis Rees-Zammit and Jonny May.”

But the 30-year-old says he can look back on his career when he retires, for now, he’s focused on the here and now.

“It’s been a good road so far but it’s not the time to recollect, I’m looking forward to the stuff ahead.”

The Cherry & Whites fans are the heart and soul of Gloucester Rugby, and Val says he’s loved every minute of playing in front of them.

“They’ve been very humbling for me; I’ve had some amazing games in front of them and some bad games in front of them but they’re always behind you. The love and dedication the fans have for their players is amazing.

“They just want you to be the best and to be successful. They’ll give everything to support you and get behind you so that’s why it’s important to players to give everything for them.”

He ended with a thank you.

“I want to say a big thank you to the Gloucester fans for always supporting me and putting up with me. I know I don’t always seem the happiest human being on the field, but if you were a loosehead prop you wouldn’t be either!

“So, thank you to everyone and it was great to see you all at Kingsholm on Friday!”

100 Gloucester Rugby appearances | Val Rapava-Ruskin

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