Val Rapava-Ruskin

A vastly experienced front-row operator, Val Rapava-Ruskin is a loosehead prop who has been a familiar presence in English club rugby with Gloucester. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 12 October 1992, he developed into a powerful and durable scrummager whose primary value lies in the set-piece, where he provides stability and physicality at the heart of the front row. Beyond his work in the scrum, Rapava-Ruskin contributes the close-quarter carrying and defensive graft expected of a modern loosehead, getting through a heavy workload around the fringes. Now in his thirties, he brings a depth of experience and a hard-nosed edge that make him a valued figure in the Gloucester pack and a steadying influence on the younger front-rowers coming through. His longevity in the demanding world of professional propping speaks to both his technical grounding and his physical resilience across a lengthy career in the Premiership. That accumulated know-how, allied to his physical presence, ensures he remains a meaningful figure in the front-row mix.