We chat with locally born pro rugby player, Phil Cringle

We catch up with Manx born Phil Cringle, a current prop with Rugby team London Scottish FC in the IPA Championship.

Q. Tell us about yourself

Phil Cringle, 23, Born in the IOM and currently living in London.

Q. What school did you go to on the island?

On the island I went to Castle Rushen.

Q. What were your main hobbies as a child?

I was just sporting mad. Played football for Colby, cricket for Castletown, shooting for Port St Mary and then rugby for any team who would let me. That alongside the masses of sport at CRHS and working on the farm. I had plenty to keep me busy.

Q. When and why did you start playing Rugby?

I started at Vagabonds when I was about 4, they didn’t have a junior side that young but my old man just pushed in with the older lot.

Q. Did you study abroad or leave school to play Rugby professionally?

I was very lucky to get a ‘Gubay Scholarship’ from the Isle of Man Sport Aid Academy which enabled me to go to Kirkham Grammar to push my rugby on.

Q. How did you end up in France?

I got the opportunity to go to France to play when I was 20, decided to take them up on the offer and go and experience something totally different for a few years.

Q. Where are you based now?

I’m currently playing for London Scottish, in the IPA Championship, this is my second season here.

Q. When and how did you end up playing for Scotland?

I originally started with Scottish exiles who I got involved with actually at Rosslyn park 7s while representing the IOM in the lead up to the Commonwealth Youth Games. I’m quite fortunate that having Manx heritage means I qualify for any of the home nations. When Scotland asked me to play junior rugby for them I jumped at the chance.

Q. Proudest moment of your Rugby career so far?

I think beating Italy in the Junior World cup in New Zealand. Probably a high-pressure game because if we lost that game we would have been relegated. We won in the last play!

Q. Hardest part of the job?

Finding things to do with all the time off… worse problems to have!

Q. Where do you want to get to in your career?

Obviously the ultimate dream is to get an International Cap.

Q. What would be your dream match to play in?

CRHS v KWC match, when CRHS win…..

Q. Hardest tackler you’ve played against?

I don’t know specifically but all the Pacific Islanders you play hit very hard.

Q. What’s your routine to cool down and relax after a tough match?

Watch Strictly Come Dancing on iPlayer…

Q. What have your initiations been when joining a new club?

Couldn’t possibly disclose that information haha

Q. What’s your nickname at your current club and why?

Just ‘Crings’, for obvious reasons. A couple of boys call me ‘chubbs’.. pretty generic nickname for a prop.

Q. Most memorable match you’ve played in?

I played Lyon away in France in front of around 10,000 people and live on French TV. We lost but an amazing experience!

Q. Any advice for someone looking to follow in your footsteps?

Just keep working hard at whatever you’re doing, there’s so much support in the Isle of Man for anyone wanting to really push at sport, so the ‘stuck on the rock’ excuse doesn’t work, if you really want to do something with it there are channels to get you there.

Q. Would you come back to the island one day to coach, or is your goal to professionally coach after playing?

I will 100% be coming back to home after rugby to farm. Whether I do coaching as well I’m not sure. I currently do a bit of kids coaching around the club so I’d best see how that goes first.

var bannersnack_embed = {“hash”:”bz95yupt4″,”width”:672,”height”:280,”t”:1550754249,”userId”:38193901,”responsive”:true,”type”:”html5″};