Fresh off the back of an away win against Strathclyde University, playing on the wing of Newcastle University’s Rugby Union first team, it would be easy to dismiss Obi Ene as a flash-in-the-pan university player. Yet his story so far shows that you write him off at your own peril. From being introduced to local Leeds amateur team Leodiensian RUFC by friends from his school, Richmond House, to a discipline switch when Rugby League club Leeds Rhinos came knocking, to receiving his offer of a trial at Sale via his England U20s coach. Injured at the time, he didn’t let that hinder him, joining up with Sale for their preseason this summer, which led to the subsequent contract offer: “Yeah, the offer is still surreal, it hasn’t quite sunk in yet that it’s real and that it’s happened to me.”
With such a meteoric rise, it would be easy for him to let success get to his head. But he credits his mum for passing down her work ethic to him, as well as the strong core of Yorkshire boys in the Newcastle first team who keep him grounded. “Alfie Weston who plays firsts, I’ve known him since Year 7, and he keeps me humble.” As a formative figure, he pays tribute to former Saracens player and England international, Dan Scarborough for fostering in him not only a winning mindset but also ensuring complacency didn’t set in, instilling in Obi the drive that he clearly shows today.
He credits his mum for passing down her work ethic, as well as the strong core of Yorkshire boys in the Newcastle first team who keep him grounded
When I asked him how he motivates himself to train every day, especially on the cold winter mornings, he answered in typical fashion, “If you’re going to commit to something, you might as well put 100% in. There’s no point in putting half in.” He counts his coachability and willingness to take advice from any and all camps as some of his key assets, which coupled with his persistent nature, makes him quite the tour de force. “And yeah, I’m pretty quick,” he adds. To anyone who has played with, against, or watched him, they’ll know 'pretty quick' doesn’t quite do him justice.
With so many games, and at such a competitive level, Obi quells the pre-match nerves with the combination of his signature lucky ponytail, and beetroot juice. “Yeah, the beetroot juice came about by a sponsorship before a game a few years ago, and everyone was given a bottle. We won and now before every game, my go-to is a bottle of it.” An unusual habit to be sure, but given the luck it has brought him, it makes you wonder if it’s not worth nipping to the shop to buy a bottle - just in case.
When he’s not playing rugby, he makes sure to switch off, whether it’s by watching his beloved Arsenal or streaming Game of Thrones. When asked what character he sees himself as, it is Jon Snow because he “makes mistakes which I do as well.” (modest as ever) And of course, when it comes to a night out, he is nothing if not a classic Newcastle student, paying tribute to Market Shaker, Sinners, and Soho as some of his favourite spots for a night out - although he made sure to point out that he’s cut back on the trebs since being formally signed!
Playing rugby at the top level whilst studying at university is no mean feat, but one Obi manages to organise. “You’ve always got time if you make time, and when you love something, you’ll make time for it, so I just see it as a balancing act.”
Taking direct inspiration from his sporting role models, amongst whom he counts legendary sprinter Usain Bolt and Arsenal starboy Bukayo Saka, he pulls off being a full-time student alongside having a jam-packed schedule with rugby admirably. “I definitely look up to Bukayo, because he’s just good at everything he does, alongside being a decent person.” In terms of rugby stars, Obi looks up to All Blacks and Toulon winger Leicester Fainga’anuku, who scored a hattrick against Italy for New Zealand a few weeks ago in the World Cup. “Yeah, stylistically we play quite a similar game, and he has the same ponytail as me which helps,” he laughs.
But as he looks to break into the Sale team, and ultimately force his way into their starting Premiership lineup, he has made the tough decision to go fully online with university for next year and go full time with Sale. He’s set himself the lofty target of making the Six Nations squad for England by 2027, but given the way he applies himself, and how those at the club talk about him, you can tell it’s more than a pipe dream.
