England star Alex Dombrandt’s incredible body transformation from ‘uni rig’ beer belly to ‘unique’ likely starter
ALEX DOMBRANDT has shaken off his 'uni rig' tag as the England star's new boss reckons he is in fact now totally unique.
Sport and Physical Education grad Dombrandt, 24, is set for a huge autumn at Test level - just three years after being ribbed for stripping off in the Harlequins changing rooms and getting his beer belly out.
As his team-mates showered him with lager following another man-of-the-match performance, then boss Paul Gustard joked: “He’s fresh out of university, he’s still got a rig from university, but the kid can play rugby.”
Now Dombrandt is Eddie Jones' likely starter at No8 against Tonga, Australia and South Africa at Twickenham after Billy Vunipola was finally dropped following his nose-diving form in a Red Rose shirt.
And it will complete a remarkable journey for Dombrandt after graduating from Cardiff Met University in 2018.
Last season he became a Premiership champion with Harlequins before finally being capped against Canada.
And the England star's new boss Tabai Matson reckons his silky skills are totally phenomenal.
Asked who else could produce the kind of sublime offloads like Dombrandt does, Matson said: "Not many forwards, if any.
Most read in Rugby Union
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
"It shows an exceptional amount of spatial awareness and we don't train that.
"I think he will be happy with his overall form, but like all players, there are parts of his game he needs to work on.
"He is now going to another level where the margins are even thinner and the game is slightly different.
"For him, the fantastic challenge that he finds is: 'How do I grow into being an international that plays a lot of games.'
"I think he has a unique skillset and there are not many forwards in the world that can do some of the stuff that we have seen him do in the last wee while.
"But the level he is going to is another game."