Nick Isiekwe

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Nick Isiekwe

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Nicholas Akamonye Isiekwe

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|04|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hemel Hempstead, England

| height = {{convert|2.01|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|120|kg|lb stlb|0|abbr=on}}

| school = Nicholas Breakspear School
Haileybury and Imperial Service College

| university =

| relatives =

| position = Lock, Flanker

| currentclub = Saracens

| years1 = 2016–

| clubs1 = Saracens

| apps1 = 133

| points1 = 20

| years2 = 2019–2021

| clubs2 = → Northampton Saints (loan)

| apps2 = 22

| points2 = 15

| repyears1 = 2015–2016

| repteam1 = England U18

| repcaps1 = 9

| reppoints1 = 0

| repyears2 = 2017

| repteam2 = England U20

| repcaps2 = 4

| reppoints2 = 0

| repyears3 = 2017–

| repteam3 = England

| repcaps3 = 11

| reppoints3 = 0

| clubupdate = 19 January 2024

| repupdate = 19 January 2024

}}

Nicholas Akamonye Isiekwe (born 20 April 1998) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Saracens and the England national team.

Early life

Isiekwe was born in Hemel Hempstead.{{cite news |url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/england-countries/nick-isiekwe-ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-saracens-lock-135600/amp|title=Who is Nick Isiekwe: Ten things you should know about the Saracens lock|first=Sarah|last=Rendell|website=Rugby World|date=30 January 2022|access-date=5 February 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/2018/06/26/rising-stars-nick-isiekwe/|title=Rising Stars: Nick Isiekwe|first=Charlie|last=Bennett|website=Premiership Rugby|date=26 June 2018|accessdate=5 February 2022}}

Isiekwe first played rugby union at the age of six (start young), playing touch rugby for Old Verulamians after being encouraged by his mother Ruth to take up a sport.{{cite news|url=https://www.ampthillrufc.com/saracens-ben-earl-nick-isiewke-sign-on-dual-registration/|title=Saracens Ben Earl & Nick Isiekwe Sign On Dual Registration|publisher=Ampthill RUFC|date=24 May 2016|access-date=22 May 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/hotshots/hotshot-saracens-lock-nick-isiekwe-78075|title=Hotshot: Saracens lock Nick Isiekwe|first=Sarah|last=Mockford|website=Rugby World|date=2 May 2017|access-date=22 May 2017}} At the age of thirteen, he played for Old Albanian RFC and went through the junior ranks at the club.

Club career

Isiekwe, a member of the Saracens Academy structure,{{cite news |url=https://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/isiekwe-on-england-saracens-and-preparing-for-exams-5023396|title=Isiekwe on England, Saracens and preparing for exams|first=Michael|last=Edwards|website=Herts Advertiser|date=4 May 2015|accessdate=22 May 2017}} was trialed at many positions including prop, Number 8, flanker and centre, but his six-foot six stature saw him physically outgrow his original positions and moved to second row. This positional change saw him gain two appearances for the Saracens senior side during the 2016–17 Premiership campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/england-squad-argentina-tour-eddie-jones-nick-isiekwe-maro-itoje-saracens-a7693091.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/england-squad-argentina-tour-eddie-jones-nick-isiekwe-maro-itoje-saracens-a7693091.html |archive-date=2022-06-20 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Eddie Jones believes Nick Isiekwe can be the next Maro Itoje as England coach backs youth in warning to fringe players|first=Jack|last=de Menezes|website=The Independent|date=20 April 2017|access-date=22 May 2017}}

In May 2018 Isiekwe started in the final of 2017–18 Premiership Rugby season as Saracens defeated Exeter Chiefs to win the competition.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44212788|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens|first=Adam|last=Williams|website=BBC Sport|date=26 May 2018|access-date=13 October 2020}} The following season he was a member of the side that completed a league and European double; coming off the bench as a replacement for Will Skelton in the 2019 European Rugby Champions Cup Final which saw Saracens defeat Leinster at St James' Park to become European champions and subsequently featuring in the victory over Exeter to retain their league title.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48239893|title=Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle|first=Mantej|last=Mann|website=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2019|access-date=13 October 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/48438232|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens|first=Brent|last=Pilnick|website=BBC Sport|date=1 June 2019|access-date=13 October 2020}}

In May 2020 it was announced that Isiekwe had signed a new deal that would see him remain at Saracens until 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.saracens.com/isiekwe-pledges-long-term-future-to-saracens/|title=Isiekwe pledges long-term future to Saracens|first=Ryan|last=Walters|website=Saracens|date=28 May 2020|access-date=28 May 2020}} After Saracens were relegated to the RFU Championship for the 2020-21 campaign it was confirmed that he would further develop his career in the Premiership by spending a season on loan at Northampton Saints.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/52830953|title=Nick Isiekwe: Northampton sign Saracens lock on year-long loan|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 May 2020|access-date=1 March 2022}} In his first season back at Saracens he started in the Premiership final defeat to Leicester Tigers.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/61829701|title=Premiership final: Leicester Tigers 15-12 Saracens - Freddie Burns drop-goal clinches title|first=Andrew|last=Aloia|website=BBC Sport|date=18 June 2022|accessdate=18 July 2022}}

He helped Saracens win the Premiership title in 2023, starting in the final as Saracens defeated Sale Sharks.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/65727086|title=Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller |publisher=BBC |date=27 May 2023 |access-date=7 June 2023}}

International career

At the age of fifteen, Isiekwe represented London and South East U16's district in 2014, which quickly saw him gain his first age-grade international call-up; playing for England under 16's against Wales and Scotland. He made a quick climb in the national age-grade set-up, representing England under 17's in 2015 and making three appearances at the 2015 European Under-18 Championship in France.{{cite news |url=https://www.hertsad.co.uk/sport/isiekwe-handed-england-u18-debut-5017454|title=Isiekwe handed England U18 debut|first=Michael|last=Edwards|website=Herts Advertiser|date=25 March 2015|accessdate=1 March 2022}} He was a member of the England under-20 team that completed a grand slam during the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/england-win-u20s-grand-slam-as-ireland-fall-short-at-the-death-35542113.html|title=England win U20s Grand Slam as Ireland fall short at the death|first=Cian|last=Tracey|website=Irish Independent|date=17 March 2017|accessdate=1 March 2022}}

On 20 April 2017, Isiekwe received his first call-up by coach Eddie Jones for the senior England team to join their summer tour of South America. On 10 June 2017 he made his senior debut as a second-half substitute for Charlie Ewels in the opening test against Argentina.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/jun/10/argentina-v-england-first-test-live|title=Argentina 34-38 England: first Test – as it happened|first=Niall|last=McVeigh|website=The Guardian|date=10 June 2017|accessdate=1 March 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/09/05/exclusive-interview-meet-nick-isiekwe-teenager-following-maro/|url-access=subscription|title=Exclusive interview: Meet Nick Isiekwe, the teenager following Maro Itoje with Saracens and England|first=Charlie|last=Morgan|website=The Daily Telegraph|date=5 September 2017|accessdate=18 July 2022}} The following year he made his first start in the opening test of their summer tour against South Africa at Ellis Park however he was substituted in the first half.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/11397421/nick-isiekwe-to-make-full-england-debut-with-brad-shields-on-bench-vs-south-africa|title=Nick Isiekwe to make full England debut with Brad Shields on bench vs South Africa|first=Tony|last=Tighe|website=Sky Sports|date=7 June 2018|accessdate=1 March 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/rugby-union/article/nick-isiekwe-back-in-favour-with-england-four-years-after-false-start-p8b8npqs5|url-access=subscription|title=Nick Isiekwe back in favour with England four years after false start|first=John|last=Westerby|date=12 February 2022|work=The Times|access-date=1 March 2022}} Isiekwe did not feature at international level again for four years until he was recalled for the 2022 Six Nations Championship. He was also a member of their 2022 tour of Australia featuring off the bench in the final test victory at Sydney Cricket Ground to win the series.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62190736|title=Australia 17-21 England: Tourists seal series win over Australia|first=Mike|last=Henson|website=BBC Sport|date=16 July 2022|accessdate=18 July 2022}}