John Afoa – “I Always Thought There’s 15 Guys On The Field, Why Can’t They All Be Involved?”
Latest posts by Will Matthews (see all)
- Six Nations agree monumental new broadcast deal - March 15, 2025
- Six Nations 2025 – All the action from Round Five of the Championship - March 14, 2025
- Ireland team named for Six Nations finale with Italy - March 13, 2025
Evolution.
Before props like Tadhg Furlong came along there was John Afoa. The former All Blacks tighthead will go down as one of the best tightheads to have ever played the game and will be remembered as one of the first players to revolutionise the position.
When Afoa first starting playing the game he says all a front-row had to do was scrum and if you “didn’t drop the ball” it was a bonus. But rugby has come a long thanks to trailblazers like Afoa.
The likes of Tadhg Furlong these days can catch, pass and run almost as good any other player on the pitch. And for Afoa – that’s how the game should be played, With all 15 players getting involved.
“I always thought why couldn’t all 15 guys be involved and play the game.” Afoa said
“As the years have gone on you can see the transformation.”
“You can’t just rely on three players to do all the work. There’s 15 guys on the field you might as well make the most of all of them”
To be able to catch, pass – kick, I want to try and bring that in. Especially next year, my last year. Just kick a few balls. But I couldn’t kick the ball for distance, I’m all about the short kicking game! Fingers crossed watch out.”
"I always thought why couldn't all 15 guys be involved and play the game."
John Afoa talks through the evolution of the Prop position 🤔
No kicking just yet 😅 pic.twitter.com/tY4JYQ63zK
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) March 1, 2019
