Former Wales and British & Irish Lions tighthead Adam Jones has joined fellow Harlequins legend Jason Leonard on the judging panel to find the Rhino Prop Star 2017.
Rhino's search to find Britain's greatest and most noble grassroots rugby prop began earlier this year and has already seen props being nominated across the country and starring on our Twitter channel rhino_rugby.
It will be the responsibility of Jones and his fellow judges to choose a shortlist of three from the nominated amateur props. These three contenders will then go to the public vote.
Following his announcement as a Rhino Prop Star judge, Jones spoke of the common characteristics all props share. “The fact is the majority of us were big boned kids,” he said, “so you’ve grown up being called fat on and off the field. That means you have to have a thick skin literally and figuratively – basically we can take the piss out of each other."
What's more, Jones also reckons props are valued more than ever in today's game. “In the last five or six years, people have cottoned-on to the fact props do an important job,” he says. “At some teams tighthead props – not me, though – have been the highest-paid players. Sides know that if they’ve got good props, they’ve got a good scrum and that’s how you win the game."
The winner of Rhino Prop Star 2017 will be invited to Twickenham for the 2017 Varsity
Match between Oxford and Cambridge on 7th December 2017 to receive their award, together with customised post protectors for their club, a Rhino 2017 British & Irish Lions hit shield and personalised Rhino hoodie. Two runners-up will also receive personalised Rhino hoodies.
All you have to do to enter, is send us a good quality picture of your nominated prop and tell us why you think he/she deserves to be crowned Rhino Prop Star 2017. We’re looking for props who go the extra mile for their club/community cause both on and off the field. You can either email us at info@rhinorugby.com, or message via our Twitter or Facebook pages.
Rhino is the official training equipment supplier to England, Wales and The British & Irish Lions. To explore our full range of training equipment, click here
Please note: closing date for Rhino Prop Star 2017 entries is 30.10.2017 – this is an amended deadline.
