“It’s been a crazy six months,” admits Nic Dolly, who became the 1,442nd man to represent England in a Test match as South Africa were beaten at Twickenham two weeks ago.
“It’s been a crazy five years, really, since I moved here. If you look where I’ve come from, it’s truly a blessing, to be honest. I couldn’t write it for you.”
It is worth attempting to tell the tale, because Dolly’s story is a rich one of perseverance and seizing opportunity. His path to a cap, which started with a Christmas trip from Australia to visit his grandparents in Manchester, has been more curious than most of the 1,441 England internationals that preceded him. If you are sitting comfortably, then, we will begin.
“We just wanted to come over as a family – my sisters, my brother, my mum – for Christmas and New Year,” Dolly says. “I told my granddad that I’d be going into pre-season for my club in Sydney and that I wanted to keep my fitness up so I wouldn’t be blowing.
“I asked if he could sort something out and he had a few connections that he spoke to. Emails flew about, which landed me at Sale.”
Tony Palin, Dolly’s “rugby-mad” and “chatty” grandfather, leant on his local contacts. Dolly began training with Sale Sharks academy and impressed enough to earn a five-year contract as well as a spot in England age-grade sides. Marcus Smith was an under-20 team-mate.
First-team action was difficult to come by for the combative hooker, though. Following loan spells at Sale FC, Rotherham and Jersey, Dolly was released as the pandemic took hold.
The experience, Dolly explains “opened my eyes to how much of a cut-throat environment rugby is”. A tricky situation turned out well. He was signed by Coventry and founded a personal training business, Build U Fitness, during the delay ahead of the 2020-21 Championship season. Dolly did not represent the West Midlands club until February 2021. Spotting potential and a tenacious attitude, Steve Borthwick swooped after just three appearances and brought Dolly to Leicester Tigers.
“Setbacks are going to happen,” says the 22-year-old. “They’re inevitable. It’s about how you bounce back from them. After getting released from Sale, I always saw myself getting back into the Premiership, wherever that was going to be. Luckily it came sooner rather than later.”
