SEIF EL-DIN ABDEL-GAWWAD

CAREER/biography
My rugby career has been successful so far and yet I have so much further to go. my obsession with the sport began 5 years when I moved to Northern Ireland from Egypt. I started playing for my local high school (downshire), and it wasn’t long before my school coach encouraged me to join the local club team who played at a higher standard. From then on I became more confident in high my technical and tactical rugby ability, and my good form for Carrick was rewarded with the call up to the Ulster clubs u17 side. This is where my journey really took off, “Props at provincial level were expected to have excellent physical attributes to compliment their technical attributes, and I was fortunate enough to be blessed with these attributes, being 6 foot 3 and 17 stone. This led to me being on the receiving end of top quality professional coaching on all aspects of the game, which helped to mould me into a more all round prop, which in turn assisted me in progressing through the different provincial age groups (u17, u18, u19 and sub academy). During this progression I have been provided the opportunity to test my abilities against opposition players from the other Irish provinces (Leinster, munster & connaught) during the annual inter provincial series, where I have been on the receiving end of some great victories and agonising defeats.
I have played against different teams during the u19s/ sub academy period teams such as sale sharks u19s, newcastle u19s, English exiles and also Canada development squad. I have also played in England for OTLEY RUGBY CLUB and leeds Beckett University which has both been very challenging and I have excelled in my time there and improved my rugby skill set.
Both have played their part in improving my mentality to that of a professional.