Clark follows in family footsteps to fulfil lifetime ambition in USA

South Wales Argus

2 days ago

The Gloucester second row, 23, will make his international debut when Steve Borthwick's resurgent side take on the USA after first being inspired to pick up a rugby ball by dad Barry.
Barry – who has flown out to the American capital alongside wife Margaret and Lexie, Arthur's girlfriend – donned the famous Cherry & White jersey back in the 1980s before finally getting his way and watching Arthur do the same four decades later.
Arthur started off playing football in the West Country before one day pivoting towards the oval ball and never looking back since.
The imposing lock honed his early craft at Stow-on-the-World RFC before graduating up into the Kingsholm academy and progressing rapidly up the ranks.
Clark has endured a difficult year with injuries but says having his nearest and dearest in attendance at Audi Field will make all the hardship worthwhile.
'I started playing football – I used to love everything as a kid,' he said.
'Dad wanted me to play rugby and nudged me every now and then.
'He had a lot of mates there with their kids who kept saying 'when is Arthur going to come?'
'He kept saying I wanted to play football – but I came off the field one day and said I wanted to play rugby.
'Stow-on-the-World was massive for me – and a big inspiration for getting into Gloucester's academy, striving to play in the footsteps of my dad.
'To make my Gloucester debut was so special – he wore the shirt and I'm now wearing it.
'Having mum, dad and my girlfriend making the journey out is really special.
'Not having them here would be hard so I'm glad they came out to share the moment with me.
'They've helped me so much and given me so much – so to have them here is amazing. It means as much to them as it does to me.'
Clark is one of three debutants in the final leg of England's transatlantic tour, with Bath centre Max Ojomoh and Sale Sharks full-back Joe Carpenter also starting.
The trio discovered they were playing at a team meeting at Washington DC's famous Watergate Hotel on Wednesday morning before a gruelling training session in red-hot American conditions.
Clark informed his family at the first opportunity before mum, dad and girlfriend all made the frantic hop across the pond in time for the match and to catch England's final training session the previous morning.
Asked how he revealed the news to his parents, he added: 'I was quickly out of meeting and onto the bus so I didn't have time to call them – but I sent them a message saying 'get the flights booked!'
'I gave them a call in the evening and they were really happy – it was a nice phone call, definitely.
'It's the highlight of my career – it's something that you look for and is constantly in your mind.
'That's the end goal – to make your debut for your country.
'This is my first sort of exposure in the first team – you learn little bits and bobs, learning off Steve, Charlie Ewels, who is one of the more experienced forwards.
'There's so much in terms of picking up things for you to take back to your club – it's great.
'You do have bonds with people as you've played against them – bonds got built quickly and the learning began.
'They bounce off me and I bounce off them – it's become a really tight group and it's amazing how fun this tour has been off the pitch too. It's been amazing.'
The match against the USA Eagles will be streamed live on RugbyPassTV and England Rugby's YouTube channel.