England's most capped rugby player joins search for Rhino Prop Star

Legendary England prop Rochelle Clark MBE has joined fellow front row icons Jason Leonard and Adam Jones to complete the judging panel for Rhino’s Prop Star 2017.

The 129-cap international, who overtook fellow judge Jason Leonard’s 114-Test record, knows exactly what she’s looking for in Rhino’s search for the prop star of grassroots rugby. “I want someone who is committed to the game,” she says. “Someone who looks after others, is willing to put their body on the line and relishes the one-on-one battle. Ultimately they have to put others before themselves.”

Clark, who plays for Wasps in the Tyrells Premier 15s League, is the perfect role model for props across the country, with her beginnings a familiar story to fellow front rowers. “When you’re young you’re chucked in the front row because of the way you are physically,” she says. “But you’ve got to be confrontational to make it work and, to be a good prop, you have to have a good technical understanding too. Quite often it’s about the one-on-one mindset – working out your opponent and how to win that battle.”

The England world cup winner also admits there’s a definite camaraderie between the front row union. “There’s a special kind of prop love,” she says. “there’s a bond between front row, an understanding that you’re all in the same club. I definitely would say the majority of props get on, we love scrum chat. I live with another prop and our scrum chat drives the other housemate mental – we talk about propping all the time. We’re definitely an odd breed.”

Rochelle and her fellow judges will be responsible for creating the three-prop shortlist when entries closes on 30.10.17. For details on Rhino Prop Star 2017, see below. 

The prizes
In addition to the award itself, the Rhino Prop Star winner will receive: 

– A Rhino British & Irish Lions hit shield
– Customised post pads for your rugby club
– Personalised Rhino hoodie
– Tickets to this year's Varsity Match
– Two runners-up will also receive a personalised Rhino hoodie

How to enter
Simply email us at info@rhinorugby.com or messages us via Facebook, telling us in no more than 100 words why you think your prop deserves to be Rhino Prop Star 2017. You also need to send us a hi-res image of your prop in playing kit. The closing date for all entries is 30.10.17.

How it works
Once you have nominated your prop, presuming they fulfil the entry criteria (see rules at the bottom of this page), they will appear on Rhino's social media channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and this is your chance to start drumming up support for them by getting your friends and family to retweet and share their nomination.

These nominated props will then be shortlisted to three by our panel of expert judges that includes propping legends Rochelle Clark, Adam Jones and Jason Leonard, together with Reg Clark, CEO of Rhino. 

This shortlist of three will then go to a public vote on Rhino's channels with a winner chosen by Thursday 7th December when the award will be presented at the Varsity Match at Twickenham.

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

A Rhino British & Irish Lions hit shield is among the prizes on offer.

The rules
1) All entrants must be active, playing, amateur rugby players.
2) Shortlisted props must be available to attend the Varsity Match on Thursday 7th December, 2017. 
3) All nominated props will appear on Rhino's social media channels for the duration of Prop Star 2017 and beyond in promotion of future Prop Star competitions.
4) All supplied imagery must be rights-free and available for Rhino to use free of charge across all social media, digital and print platforms in relation to Rhino Prop Star promotional activity.
5) There are no alternative prizes or cash alternatives.
6) Prizes will only be sent to a UK postal address.
7) The closing date for all entries is midnight, 30.10.17.
8) The shortlisting is subject to the judges' decision and that decision is final - no correspondence will be entered into.
9) Rhino Rugby assumes that by entering the Competition you are aged 18 or over or, if you are under 18, that your parent / guardian has consented to your entry into the Competition and these Rules.
10) Any entrants under the age of 16, must be accompanied by an adult should they be invited to the Varsity Match 2017 by Rhino rugby. 
11) All shortlisted props may be required to appear in a Rhino Prop Star promotional video.
12) Travel to the Varsity Match on Thursday 7th December, 2017, and other expenses, unless specifically stated, associated with attending the event are the sole responsibility of the prize winner.