USA international Joe Taufete’e admitted rugby was his second chance at getting back into sport after a long-term injury left him in a ‘dark place’.
The Californian suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while playing American football, which put him out of the game for a year.
He made the transition to rugby in 2011 and has since gone on to represent his country and play for Otorohanga RFC in Waikato, New Zealand.
The front row, who can play as a hooker or prop, could make his Aviva Premiership debut against Bristol at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day (3pm) and insists he is ready to show head coach Carl Hogg what he can bring to the team.
“I’m quite a big hooker but I love to carry the ball and, on the defensive side, chop tackling is my thing. When playing American football I was always the better tackler,” said the former San Diego Breakers player.
“I can play hooker and prop but I enjoy playing hooker, especially because of the art of the lineout. I played as a long snapper in American football, so the transition to rugby wasn’t too difficult because I already had a good feel of the ball.
“The last year has been very exciting. Sometimes I have to sit back and take it in a little bit to realise how far I’ve come.
“I’ve heard a lot about the Premiership and I know how big the Boxing Day game is against Bristol. “The coaches are still easing me in, but I’m ready if I get given the chance to play in that game.
“Each training session I see as my chance to show the coaches what I can bring to the table. My aim is to score as many tries as I can and bring that attacking front foot we can take advantage of.
“I don’t know much front rows that would say they want to score, but I want to carry the ball and get in the mix,” he added.
Taufete’e, who has made nine international appearances for the USA since making his debut at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, insisted the sport is becoming increasingly popular across the pond.
“Having the sevens reintroduced into the Olympics this year was huge for the USA. Rugby is getting more and more popular.
“If I tell someone in the States I play rugby they know exactly what it is, whereas before they used to ask what it was. I’d have to say it’s American football without pads,” he added.