Just three days out from the biggest match of his life, Nick Champion de Crespigny is still being brought back to his origins.
The Force No.8, whose aristocratic-sounding surname originates from Normandy, grew up riveted by the globe-trotting tales of his grandfather, Professor Rafe de Crespigny, who at 86 remains a world authority on ancient Chinese history.
Champion de Crespigny was called into the Wallabies squad for the first time just last week, earning a name-check from former Sydney University teammate Will Skelton, who remembered his fellow back-rower’s ultra-abrasive approach to training.
On Saturday, with his grandfather watching in the stands, Champion de Crespigny will run out to face the Lions aiming to deploy his bruising, relentlessly physical game to unnerve a touring squad still shaking off the last remnants of jet lag.
Yet the 28-year-old could just as easily been wearing an Australian rowing singlet having grown up juggling the two sports in Canberra.
“I was quite ambitious in rowing, I really loved it, I represented the state at the Youth Olympics in Australia,” Champion de Crespigny said.
Nick Champion de Crespigny of the Force is tackled against the Waratahs this year.Credit: Getty Images
“I always say rowing sets the foundations of your life, you get out what you put in. Rowing is a pretty easy formula: if you train hard you will eventually succeed.
“At school I was balanced rugby and rowing – early mornings, late nights, training and then going home to complete my studies, and it ingrained a work ethic where you just have to dig in. Rowing shows what you are made of. It’s a pretty tough two kilometres, your true colours really come out.”
Arriving at Sydney University as an economics student in 2015, Champion de Crespigny had to make a choice and plumped for the rugby club. His decision was vindicated two years later when he won the Shute Shield playing alongside Wallabies Harry Potter and Jake Gordon.
After graduating, Champion de Crespigny found work in property development while trying and ultimately failing to nail down a spot with the Waratahs.
An offer to play as a full-time professional in France with Castres eventually followed, and the back-rower moved to the country of his forefathers.
Castres is home to just over 40,000 people, and most of them are well-acquainted with the town’s rugby team.
Champion de Crespigny embraced life in France, helping his new side defeat an Antoine Dupont-led Toulouse in the Top 14 semi-finals in 2022 before playing in front of 78,245 fans at the Stade de France in the final against eventual champions Montpellier.
In front of a packed Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, Champion de Crespigny will face the toughest challenge of his professional career when the Force go head-to-head with the Lions in the tourists’ first match on Australian soil.
Nick Champion de Crespigny will spearhead the Force pack when they take on the Lions on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
“I actually reflect most days. I had the privilege of not having the most linear path to professional rugby and I really appreciate it,” Champion de Crespigny said.
“ I remember labouring during the day, training at night, and studying, and then getting up at 6am to get to the gym before having to go work in the city for another day.
“I’ve seen the other side of life where you’re trying to balance it all, so I think every single day, wow, this is amazing. This week’s been a bit of a whirlwind with everything going on. But I’m starting to really get excited and sit back and go, what a journey it’s been.”
One of Champion de Crespigny’s possible opponents on Saturday, Pierre Schoeman, is reflecting on his own unique journey to the Lions series. The prop moved from South Africa to Scotland seven years ago and qualified for his adopted country three years later.
Schoeman played for South Africa’s under-20s, but has now fully embraced life as part of the British and Irish Lions squad.
“Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself, I know other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home, you embrace that, you fully take that on,” Schoeman said.
“It’s like the movie Outlander, you move to a different country, and now that’s your house, you live there. If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you’re going to go for them and you can really make that home.
“But this is much different. You buy into the culture and now to represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that, you fully submerge into that, nothing else matters.”
All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.
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