Young Sydney University Football Club second-rower Isaac Rumble will be living the dream when he flies to France next week to link up with Provence Rugby playing in the 16-team Pro D2, the second tier of France’s league system.
The 20-year-old, who is in the second year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, has been signed on a two-year deal after Provence officials saw footage of him in action for the University in the Sydney Shute Shield competition.
Standing 196cm and weighing in at a very fit 120kg, Isaac is a lineout specialist and a strong scrummager as well as being an imposing figure with the ball in hand and in defence.
Isaac grew up in Collaroy and attended he King’s School where he played in the First XV in the GPS competition. He enrolled at Sydney University in 2023 and lived in St Andrew’s College in his freshman year before moving back home. Having been signed to the Sydney University Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program, he played for the SUFC Colts in 2023 before making his First Grade debut in the Shute Shield this season, playing all of the trial matches and the first few rounds of the competition.
He was then called up to play in the Australian Under 20 trials on the Gold Coast but missed out on the squad selected to contest 2024 Under 20 World Rugby Championship in South Africa.
He says the Elite Athlete Program has helped a great deal to organise his time between training, playing, studying and travelling. “I also have to thank Sydney University Football Club Head of Coaching Todd Louden and his staff who put so much work into me with fitness and technique during the off-season,” he said. “They helped get me recruited probably five years ahead of where I’d be without them. They do a great job with younger players.”
Isaac said his manager had sent Provence officials some clips of him playing for SUFC. “They are watching Aussie club rugby and looking for players to recruit,” he said. “I’ll be going to France to start the pre-season with Provence in the south of the country, near Marseille. I’ll be on a two-year contract with the club providing accommodation, food and a salary. I have very limited French, so they’ll also be providing French lessons which I’m looking forward to.
“I’ll probably have to defer my commerce degree this year but depending how things pan out over there I might be able to continue studies in France. The pre-season begins on July 15 and the 30-game competition runs through to November. It’s a big season.”
Two years with Provence and a return to SUFC could lead to a Super Rugby call-up, which is now on his radar.
Bon voyage Isaac.
