Welsh rugby's latest budding young superstar has revealed why playing for England was never on his radar and the generosity of school teachers that changed his life.
Christ Tshiunza was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002, at a time when the country was engulfed in a civil war. A year later, his family emigrated to the UK, eventually ending up in Cardiff for a safer life.
Growing up, he was initially unable to speak English, which made it difficult to fit in and make friends in school. But, in an interview with The Times, Tshiunza speaks glowingly of the effort that those around him made to ensure he felt welcomed, and that's when he fell in love with Wales.
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He told The Times: "Everyone in my primary school made an effort. Imagine being friends with someone you couldn’t speak to. I found everyone was really nice and that is why Wales resonates with my heart."
Having experienced a phenomenal rise to prominence in the rugby world, last year Tshiunza found himself eligible to play international rugby for Wales, England, France and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He'd come through the Wales age-grade ranks but there were fears he could be enticed over the River Severn by Eddie Jones and the oodles of cash that are paid to England's Test stars. Indeed, in March last year he was named in an England U20s squad.
It led to Wales boss Wayne Pivac desperately capping the towering forward at the earliest opportunity. But Welsh rugby needn't have worried.
He said: “I didn’t care about the cash. I never spoke to Eddie Jones but I wouldn’t have cared what he had to say. I wouldn’t have cared what they had offered me. Had I played for England it wouldn’t have meant anything to me.”
Like former Wales captain Sam Warburton, Tshiunza's rugby journey really began in earnest at Whitchurch High School under the tutelage of Director of Rugby Steve Williams, who the youngster was to later gift his first Wales jersey as a sign of his gratitude. Until the age of 15, rugby was not a serious pursuit for him but a growth spurt saw Williams urge Tshiunza to start taking the game seriously.
A tour of South Africa was on the horizon but Tshiunza's family were not keen on him playing a game they did not understand and appeared violent. They also did not have the money to fund the trip abroad.
That's when teachers at the school put their hand into their own pocket.
“The turning point for me was a school trip to South Africa," he said.
"At this point she [Tshiunza's mum] didn’t have a great job. Mr Williams and a few of the other school coaches helped out from their own pocket. They were just like, ‘Keep it on the hush’— but they helped out and that South Africa trip, it was just crazy. We played against three schools and I was man of the match twice.
“The crowds were crazy. They were supporting both sides. Everyone was chanting. I came back and was like, ‘Yeah, this is my sport.’"
And so began a journey to becoming one of the hottest prospects in the world. He progressed through the Cardiff Blues age grade system and caught the eye of Harlequins and Exeter.
But it was Chiefs boss Rob Baxter who convinced him in 2019, making multiple trips from Devon to the Welsh capital to hold talks. Cardiff, he says, never came knocking on his door. In the past, though, the Welsh side have gone on record as saying they put on the table the 'biggest academy contract' they'd ever offered.
Injury curtailed Tshiunza's involvement at Test level last season after making brief appearances in the 2021 autumn series. Pivac decided to leave him out the trip to South Africa and give him the summer with the under-20s - a decision he almost regretted when the 20-year-old trained against the senior squad prior to the trip and made a significant impact.
But he will certainly be involved when the Wales boss names his squad for this autumn on October 18. His ability to play lock or back row is exactly what Pivac is searching for and his form for Exeter Chiefs this season has been exquisite.
By the time next year's World Cup rolls around, he will be a serious force on the Test stage. It would seem we are witnessing the first steps in what will surely be an illustrious career at the top of the game.
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