The Making of a Prop: JJ O'Connell-Wozniak's Story
Photo Credit: @CardiffMetSport/Carl Robertson
“Rugby is a huge part of my identity. Even from a young age, I always had a passion for the game and knew I wanted to do something with it professionally. Not only has rugby helped me develop as a player, but it has also helped me build strong relationships off the field. There’s a shared respect within rugby because everyone understands the sacrifices and commitment required for the team.
“I also love the physical side of the game. The fact that you can hit someone and it’s completely legal is crazy, but in a strange way, that’s part of what makes it so enjoyable.”
JJ O'Connell-Wozniak and rugby’s relationship is steadfast, strong, and long-lasting. He has given so much to the game; he has a great story to tell.
Bath
O'Connell-Wozniak is a prop. Props are vital to any rugby team, as they are the heartbeat of a contest, whether it's laying down a good foundation in the scrum or bringing that physical edge. A great prop can make all the difference. O'Connell-Wozniak is a talented prop in his own right. He didn’t start out in the position, but his skill and approach on the pitch were clear, as he was picked up by Bath at an early age. Throughout his time at the club, he experienced many different emotions and situations that helped him grow as a person and player.
“Bath was a huge part of my life. I joined the academy at 13 and stayed until the end of the Under-18 programme. It helped shape me both physically and mentally.
“Being in that environment made me fall in love with the professional side of rugby. The strength and conditioning programmes, one-to-one analysis sessions, coaching, training, and overall standards showed me what it takes to perform at a high level. It also taught me how to handle a competitive environment where selection and deselection are constant realities.
“Throughout my time there, I learned what it takes to play at the highest level. The support available was also incredible. I suffered a serious collarbone injury that kept me out for almost a year, and the amount of effort the staff put into my recovery was amazing. From physio support to helping with hospital appointments and surgery, they did everything they could to get me back playing.
“Although I wasn’t offered a contract at the end of my time there, the experience helped me develop much faster than I would have in a typical school, club, or AASE set-up. The habits you learn in an academy environment, such as making sure you stay on top of your strength and conditioning, analysing your own performances, and maintaining professional standards, stay with you long after you leave.”
Bath helped shape his path, but every journey leads somewhere new. When that chapter closed, he found a place to belong at Cyncoed Campus.
Cardiff Met
Over recent years, Cardiff Met has become a home for ambitious rugby players looking to push themselves to the next level. O'Connell-Wozniak joined the programme in 2022 and has since competed in the Welsh Premiership and BUCS Super Rugby. He talked about how much the university means to him.
“Playing for Cardiff Met in front of the Ultras is an experience you simply can’t replicate. I’ve experienced both sides of it, supporting the boys on a Wednesday after playing earlier myself and then having the Ultras behind you when you’re playing. No matter the weather or the circumstances, they always turn up and create an atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else.
“Cardiff Met is also an incredibly competitive environment. Across all the men’s teams, including the freshers’ squads, there are hundreds of players competing for places. You learn very quickly that nothing is guaranteed.
“My journey at Met was probably more unconventional than most. When I arrived, I was a back-row player coming from a consistent academy background and had been highly rated. I had a strong pre-season, but despite that, I was initially placed in the fourth/fifth team. Personally, that was quite humbling, but I certainly wasn’t the only player to experience it.
“I carried on for the next two years and made progress, but not as much as I had hoped. At one point, I started questioning whether I should continue taking rugby seriously or simply enjoy it as part of the university experience.
“Then came the South Africa tour, which was an incredible experience and, in many ways, a turning point in my rugby journey. There were only a couple of specialist props on the tour, while many of the other forwards were back-rowers or second rows. I was moved into the front row because my playing style suited the position.
“During that tour, the coaches, particularly Alun Williams, pulled me aside and explained the opportunity I could have at Cardiff Met if I fully committed to becoming a prop.
“After giving it serious thought over the summer and speaking with Rhys Roberts and the coaching staff, I decided to switch positions. Since then, I haven’t looked back. I’m now playing performance rugby in a role that I genuinely enjoy.”
The decision to switch from back row to prop proved to be a turning point, and O'Connell-Wozniak believes Cardiff Met gave him the platform to make the transition a success.
Development and the Future
“Over the last two years, Cardiff Met has supported my development enormously, particularly through my transition from back row to prop.
“Although I had some of the physical attributes required, scrummaging is a skill that takes years to develop. It’s almost like studying for another degree alongside your actual one. To become a good prop, you have to genuinely enjoy the technical side of the position, and Cardiff Met helped me develop that enjoyment.
“The competitive culture within the squad has also been a major factor. The groups of players I’ve been involved with all push each other to improve and perform at their best. Having that level of support and competitiveness in training and matches has been invaluable for my development.
“Gards and the coaching staff invested a lot of time in me. They understood that I was a work in progress and gave me both the tools and opportunities to develop into a prop. The support they provided helped me achieve goals that, a few years ago, I wouldn’t have thought possible.
“Because of the opportunities and support available at Cardiff Met, I’ve been able to gain experience with professional and semi-professional teams, including opportunities in the Championship. If you had told me a few years ago that I would be in that position, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
“I have a huge amount of appreciation for Cardiff Met and all of the coaches and staff who have helped me along the way.”
His switch to prop has already reshaped his rugby career, and he believes his best years are still ahead of him.
“My main ambition is to continue progressing within professional environments and play professional or semi-professional rugby for as long as possible. Rugby has always been a major part of my life, and the opportunities I’ve been given have only strengthened my desire to pursue it.
“Alongside my playing career, I also want to continue developing as a coach. I’ve already gained coaching experience across a range of ages and levels, and one thing I’ve learned about myself is how much I enjoy working with people and helping them achieve their goals.
“As a prop, I understand that development takes time. It’s a position that demands a high level of physical and mental growth, and many players only reach their full potential later in their careers. Because of that, I’m committed to continuing my development, learning as much as possible, and seeing how far I can take my rugby journey.”
The game has already taken O’Connell-Wozniak on a remarkable journey, filled with challenges, growth, and memorable moments. Yet there is more to come, and the future remains full of possibility.
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