Multiple ingredients go into baking a world-class international prop. Strength is clearly a vital prerequisite, but so is a hunger for improvement and an ability to absorb serious levels of pain. There will be plenty of tightheads up and down the country not remotely surprised to learn that England’s Will Stuart regularly sleeps on his kitchen floor in Bath after a game as part of his recovery regime.
Stuart is 27 years old but listening to him detailing his Saturday night after the recent home Champions Cup win over Ulster makes him sound much older. “A few of the lads went for a few beers but I was back-spasming on my kitchen floor with a heat pack on my back and a drip line of tea from my girlfriend.
