Tyrese Johnson-Fisher Interview: Schoolboy sensation on why he's leaving chance at NFL dream for Bristol Bears
There was a period in 2015 when the name Tyrese Johnson-Fisher was on the lips of everyone in English rugby. A video had emerged of the 14-year-old scoring four tries in a single game and it quickly went viral. The video currently stands at 2.5 million views and the excitement around the Oakham school centre was clear to see.
People from all across the globe, rugby and non-rugby fans alike, were sharing the video and watching in amazement as the young back scorched defender after defender and made the game look remarkably easy.
Many believed that Johnson-Fisher was set to be the next big star in World rugby, with a name and a brand that was larger than any other player his age. Tyrese then decided to take a break from rugby, focusing on his sprinting where he managed to clock a PB of 10.72 over 100m. This is incredibly fast for a player of his size and power.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVSwdxcHDFa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
After a short period at Leicester Tigers Under 18’s, the 18-year-old from South London decided to take on an entirely different challenge, American Football. The viral video of Tyrese helped the youngster to gain interest from Coastal Carolina University Football, a team that played in the NCAA Division.
His performance in the Under Armour All-America High School Practice helped to solidify that position.
Speculation increased around Tyrese’s future in the American sport when he retweeted a post saying that he had entered the transfer portal, which meant that he was eligible to join other colleges after a season where he didn’t pad up for his team once.
Coastal Carolina RB Tyrese Johnson-Fisher has entered the Transfer Portal pic.twitter.com/lMqX4g7Mro
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) February 15, 2019
This morning it has emerged that Johnson-Fisher will now be returning to rugby, in an exciting move to Bristol Bears which will certainly raise attention from the rugby world and in particular domestic English Rugby.
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@tj_athlete has touched down at #BristolBears on a 1? year deal ?
Excited to see this guy seize his opportunity ? pic.twitter.com/BiPLkmahDl
— Bristol Bears ? (@BristolBears) August 9, 2019
RugbyPass has spoken to Johnson-Fisher this morning to gain a better understanding about his move back to England, and what he feels this could mean for his future in the sport.
Rugby Pass: How was your experience playing for Coastal Carolina. Did it meet the expectations that you had when you joined last January?
Tyrese Johnson-Fisher: The experience was second to none, coming in July and having to start at 5:45 with 8:30 classes wasn’t great considering I had just finished my A Levels a couple of weeks before but, the training in the summer was intense and worth my while in every sense.
In season we went from 6:45-11:30 which was challenging considering the fact that we had school stuff straight after but it allowed me to stay focused and stuck to the task at hand in order to smash all areas that I was involved in.
RP: What was the decision behind returning back to rugby?
TJF: Me returning to rugby was always inevitable, I loved everything about the experience I had in the states but England is my home and rugby helped me become the man that I am trying to be. Seeing what Pat Lam has done so far at Bristol made it almost impossible to not want to be a part of so it was an offer that I couldn’t say no to.
RP: What skills did you learn in American Football that you think aid you when you return to rugby?
TJF: American football helped me become an athlete, a better athlete than I was before. For sure my tackling and skills in rugby may not be there but beating a man 1 on 1 and being able to get a quick burst of speed that can be converted into power should help the team and I.
RP: What was the decision behind joining Bristol Bears. What attracted you about the club?
TJF: In regards to coming to Bristol, the direction that the club is going in, is something that I want to be a part of. The coaches seemed like they were passionate about success, the area is beautiful and Pat Lam’s faith in me gave me the confidence to want to return back to rugby.
RP: What are your goals for the upcoming 2019/2020 season. You carry with you a big name after the entrance you made in English rugby in 2015, what do you see ahead of you in the next 10-12 months?
TFJ: Given my past, initially, it’s just getting my hands on a rugby ball again and getting to know my teammates, feel comfortable in the area and understanding the systems. In hindsight I’d love to get a few first team games and a few England age group caps but that’s everyone’s dream? Realistically I just want to get ho to scratch and understand the game.
RP: At 19-years-old, the competition will be increasing as you approach 1st XV rugby. Do you feel the time spent away from rugby will hinder you, or will the skills that you learned in other sports stand you in good stead?
TJF: My time away would have hindered my rugby knowledge but in regards to me as an athlete, I feel the best I ever have and that’s all thanks to American football. In space I feel that I’ll be dangerous but I just need more time to focus on the finer details on my passing, my tackling and reading defences.
Tyrese shall be joining a Bristol Bears team that has been seriously upgraded over the summer with the likes of Nathan Hughes and David Attwood joining. Tyrese will be alongside academy graduate Ioan Lloyd who has seriously impressed for Wales at age-grade level.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments