WHEN taking a look at the list of Worcester Warriors’ leading try-scorers this season, there is arguably one name which stands out among the rest.
Promising prop Val Rapava Ruskin’s first half try against Jersey on Friday was his fifth in seven games and moved him alongside potent wing Tom Biggs and in-form flanker Mat Gilbert at top of the club’s standings.
This may come as a surprise to many as loose-heads are known more for their power in the scrum than their try-scoring prowess.
For instance, England international Matt Mullan crashed over just five times during his six-year stay at Sixways.
But Rapava Ruskin, who notably struck twice against Rotherham last month, is a man on a mission and the 22-year-old believes he is part of new breed of props which are desperate to get over the try line.
“Everybody has got these misconceptions of props that they are just strong and do the dirty work,” he said.
“But hopefully I can change that as I believe props can still move around like back rowers. They are not just the ones which scrum as they can actually score tries and go forward.
“I think there will be a whole new generation of props and I want to administrate that type of game in this position.”
The Georgian-born prop’s background as a back row forward may have something to do with his determination to get involved in the action.
He added: “After playing for the Georgian u19s as a number eight, I was told by the Western Province head coach you can either be a great back rower or a world class prop and as I have high standards I decided to switch.
“It has been a huge change and there has been a lot of difficulties. When you are playing in the back row you get in the scrum and get out again and feel fresh.
“But when you lift your head from the scrum as a prop you are seeing stars and Mona Lisa hanging in the corner, so it is hard work. But I want to be able to lift my head up from the scrum and then do my bit for the team.”
Rapava Ruskin has also benefited from working with star-stubbed Toulon last year and he said he was now keen to make a name for himself at Warriors.
“If I just wanted to have a fancy career then I would have stayed at Toulon, but as I wanted to progress my career I had to come to Worcester,” he said.
“Toulon was a great place to learn from the likes of Andrew Sheridan and Carl Hayman. I saw how much those guys dedicated themselves to get better.
“You would come in at 6.30am and think you got in early, but then you would see Jonny Wilkinson out there kicking a ball through the posts, so you can never do too much and that’s why they are European champions.
“You realise how much you have to work to be the best and I want to continue that and make use of the excellent coaches here at Worcester.”