Gabriel Ibitoye has revealed his playing style was partly inspired by New Zealand legend Sonny Bill Williams in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports pundit Ugo Monye.
The winger has made a sensational start to the Gallagher Premiership season with Bristol Bears, scoring four tries in five appearances.
He came through at Harlequins’ academy, shining for England Under-20s before playing abroad.
He joked that he sometimes goes too far in his attempts to emulate his hero ahead of Bears’ clash with defending champions Northampton Saints, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Friday evening.
“When I was younger, I watched a lot of The Tri Nations (now The Rugby Championship),” Ibitoye said.
“I would watch Israel Dagg, Sonny Bill Williams, even Willie le Roux. Those were the guys that I really loved watching.
“Maybe sometimes I try to be like Sonny Bill a bit too much.”
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Ibitoye made his professional debut for Quins in November 2017, and reflected on the switch from schoolboy rugby with Trinity to competing alongside the stars he had been watching on television.
“It was pretty cool [entering a professional set-up],” he said.
“Seeing you guys play on television, all those years, you [Ugo Monye], Danny [Care], [Chris] Robshaw.
“I was straight out of school and training with people I had watched on TV, it was an awesome experience.”
Ibitoye left Quins in 2020, signing with French side Agen before joining Montpellier Herault in 2021. The Bears back believes he struggled with his fitness while playing in France.
“For me, it was the first time I did something different,” he said. “I was really looking forward to it.
“I had always wanted to play abroad, so that was my main motivation and my driving factor there.
“It was tough, I was trying to keep fit, every time I got back fit I got injured. I just did not know what was next, that was the big thing hanging over me.”
Ibitoye followed that up with a move to Israeli side Tel Aviv Heat after a surprise phone call with former Quins team-mate Demetri Catrakilis.
“For me it was a fresh start,” he continued. “I spoke with Demetri and he said ‘look, we have got a list of players who are out of contract and your name came up’.
“I said I just need to play without pressure and without too many consequences.”
Ibitoye returned to the Gallagher Premiership with Bears in 2022, where he is relishing the faith of head coach Pat Lam.
“Pat puts a lot of trust in me, he makes me work hard, he makes us all work hard,” he added.
“My first year of being a winger was outside Semi Radradr and Charles Piutau, so it was pretty easy.
“That was a good transition back into the sport. For me, they can make a two-on-two look like a two-on-one.”
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