‘Wasn’t ready’: Why Wallabies lineout boss shunned England move
London: Josh Canham’s journey to a Wallabies jersey in 2024 and this year’s Spring Tour is a road less travelled.
The 202cm lock was born in Arizona to English-born parents and came through the Victorian rugby system.
Josh Canham celebrates the win with Ben Donaldson. Getty Images
In his junior days, he was a dual-athlete having played representative basketball in Melbourne, but one habit ensured he’d never pursue the sport professionally.
“I think the hand-eye coordination you have in that sport is something I’ve been able to bring over to rugby,” he told reporters from the sports bar of The Lensbury at the Wallabies’ training base.
“I really love basketball, but you know it’s not the sport for you when you’re fouling out every game, so I needed something more physical.”
Canham has become an asset for the Wallabies in the last year, particularly after his hat-trick against Italy in July.
The 25-year-old admitted there was a feeling of “imposter syndrome” while making his mark in the gold jersey, but he’s now put those thoughts out of his brain. Part of that is down to Les Kiss′ tutelage, having played under the now Wallabies coach at the Reds too.
“He lets me play pretty free,” he said.
“He gives me structures to play off and things to focus on, but I think I play the best when I don’t have to overthink and just do, and he gives you the freedom to do that.”
Now in this Spring Tour, Canham will first play against a country in England where he has heritage after his parents Julie and Jeremy both grew up in Peterborough.
His father Jeremy played for Northampton in the back row before moving around the world due to his job with machine company Caterpillar.
Canham himself was approached by Northampton early in his career but admitted “I wasn’t ready” for the move.
“There’s so much opportunity in Australia, I didn’t want to give away the opportunity to play for the Wallabies,” he said.
“Although I have two English parents, I’ve felt Australian, and I am Australian, playing for the Wallabies has always been my dream.”
Josh Canham during his time at the Rebels. Getty
Considering his parents have been in Australia for an extended period, Canham described them as “50/50” when it comes to their England and Australian identity.
He himself is “90/10”, in his own words.
Will they be in England jerseys when he runs out on Twickenham?
“Definitely not,” he said.
Canham’s flirtation with a stint at Northampton came when the Melbourne Rebels were in freefall. However, the extinction of the Rebels led him to the Reds under Kiss.
The lock’s time at Melbourne meant he saw a familiar face in Geoff Parling at training on Wednesday.
Parling was previously an assistant at the Rebels and the Wallabies before taking on the role as Leicester Tigers head coach last year.
The former England representative played a big role in Canham’s career, helping him develop as a lineout caller during his time at the Rebels and if that part of the set-piece breaks down the English on Sunday, the home crowd has one of its own to blame.
“I think it’s been a slow built over my whole career in Super Rugby,” Canham said of his lineout role.
“I saw Geoff Parling today, he was a big part of my career growing up in Melbourne, he taught me quite a lot.
Geoff Parling at Principality Stadium. Getty
“Through the years you get more confident, you see things in a different way and if I got thrown in the deep end quite a few years ago I might not have held it like I did earlier this year.
“... if everyone knows their role, that gives me confidence to pick an option and do the little things. I think the preparation throughout the week is to make sure I’m on top of everything and everyone is on top of everything and that gives me confidence to go out and do that.”
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