As he takes a seat at Bristol’s state-of-the-art training centre and a break from pictures and autographs with adoring school children, Ellis Genge pauses for thought to discuss not only the future of English rugby, but of society in general.
The England prop is a father to three young children. He has been open and honest enough to admit his sport saved him from going down the wrong path in his youth.
So, at a time when Netflix drama Adolescence has shone a light on the struggles young people – particularly boys – are experiencing, Genge’s thoughts are more than valid.
‘Rugby and sport can help kids with the issues the show brings up,’ he told Mail Sport. ‘But if I’m going to shoot from the hip, which is what I like to do, I think some people are almost going to use that as an excuse now. If your kids are doing bad stuff, then my opinion is you’ve got to look at yourself as a parent. I know it’s hard.
‘Parents have financial constraints. There is a lot more going on in adult life now compared to back in the day when it seemed a bit easier.
‘Technology and the internet is readily accessible. But I think parents have to look at how they allow access to it. If your kid is upset or struggling, I think you should be there to support them rather than relying on external sources all the time.
Ellis Genge believes rugby and sport can help with issues brought up in TV show Adolescence
England prop Genge is a father of three young children and he has been open and honest enough to admit his sport saved him from going down the wrong path in his youth
Genge is clear on the benefits his sport can bring, believing it provides ‘male role models’
‘From a societal standpoint, I think as parents we need to look at ourselves first rather than putting all the blame on the internet. The internet was there when I was young. But I didn’t get up to stuff like you see on Adolescence.
‘Instead, I was exposed to things that weren’t on the Netflix show. It shows me how important male role models and a stable home foundation are.’
Adolescence, which will be shown for free in secondary schools after its explosion to prominence, tells the story of a 13-year-old schoolboy who is arrested for murdering his female classmate after being drawn into a violent form of ideology online.
It has raised all manner of talking points, chiefly that young boys especially are being readily exposed to misogyny and toxic masculinity – the sort of traits encouraged by social media figures like Andrew Tate. The perils of online propaganda are very real. Teenagers today have access to an online world which simply didn’t exist previously, something Genge is well aware of.
Isolation, withdrawal from society and numerous other potential problems can follow. Sir Gareth Southgate’s impressive Richard Dimbleby Lecture also touched on many of these issues. It seems rather obvious that taking part in any sport – with rugby being just one option – can be an antidote to the awful Tate effect.
As rugby continues to battle participation issues relating to wider concerns over head injuries, some parents are concerned their children’s welfare is at risk by playing the sport. But is the alternative any better? Is it really safer for children to be inside and online rather than outside and active?
Speaking at a Bristol community event where hundreds of the city’s schoolchildren took part in touch rugby, Genge is clear on the benefits his sport can bring.
‘Rugby is different. It provides male role models but more importantly, it’s a team game,’ said the now 30-year-old, who is a leading contender to become a British & Irish Lion for the first time in Australia this summer.
Genge was speaking at a community event in Bristol were hundreds of kids played touch rugby
It is refreshing to speak to a sports star willing to not only be open but also have his say on wider issues outside his stated remit. Last month, Genge’s family clan grew to five
‘You have to rely on everyone else and you build such tight connections, as friends as much as team-mates. Rugby helped me so much.
‘It shaped me as a man, really. The path I was going down was quite closed off. My mates were my mates. You don’t let anyone else in. Playing rugby definitely showed me another side of the coin. I don’t want to be the dad that pushes my kids into rugby just because I played. But I have seen the benefits and what it can do.
‘My son is a very emotional young man. I was as well. My mum tells me that. At the moment, he quite likes putting the kit on. Hopefully, we’ll see him out there one day. He’s got a shirt with “Daddy” and No 1 on the back. If he puts “Genge” on the back, everyone hassles him!’
Genge continued: ‘I do get emotional when I see kids playing rugby and looking up to me. A young girl asked me a question this morning about when I was growing up. It was quite direct. I was fighting back the tears.
‘A lot of kids tell me they want to start playing for their rugby club. One young boy said to me: “I play football, but how do I get into rugby?”. That’s huge. If they’re asking questions like that, it can only be a good thing.
‘I’m now definitely feeling more conscious about how I answer. In the past, I’ve probably been too sharp with my tongue. I’ve probably said some things I shouldn’t or tried to give a funny answer. But now I try to give meaningful advice because I know I might shape a kid’s future in a way. Scary that, isn’t it?’
It is refreshing to speak to a sports star willing to not only be open but also have his say on wider issues outside his stated remit. Genge and partner Meg last month welcomed new daughter Francis, the family clan growing to five. The latest arrival came on the back of an impressive Six Nations for Genge and England.
The loosehead was back to his best in the 2025 Championship, combining his trademark aggression around the field with being a part of a much-improved England scrum. It’s put him in a good position to make Andy Farrell’s Lions squad.
Genge believes if children are doing ‘bad stuff’, ‘you’ve got to look at yourself as a parent’
He was a Six Nations ever present and was back to his best as England finished second
‘I’d be really happy,’ said Genge, when asked about the prospect of making the tour. ‘But I’m a bit superstitious about that sort of stuff, so don’t like talking about it.
‘I didn’t watch the 2021 tour. I was in the academy at Bristol for 2013. I do remember I was in a pub for a team social and someone in there had Alex Corbisiero to score first at 33/1. He went absolutely mental!’
Genge was a Six Nations ever present for Steve Borthwick’s side as they finished second behind winners France – a team they beat – with four wins from five matches.
‘I played the first two weeks after the Six Nations and had a kid, so I hadn’t really reflected on it at all,’ said Genge, who has never been afraid to speak his mind. ‘We probably exceeded some people’s expectations and probably underwhelmed a few as well. As I’ve got older, I’ve realised you’re either c*** or you’re brilliant.
‘There’s no in between.’
Genge hit back at England’s critics after their Calcutta Cup win over Scotland.
‘All the fans were saying I couldn’t take feedback. I find hypocrisy in that. It’s crazy,’ he said. ‘I’m feeding back on what they’re saying and they’re saying I can’t take feedback. It’s quite ironic.
‘When you’re in the England environment and working hard every day, of course you’re going to take offence to people saying you’re rubbish when you’re winning, especially after they were saying you were rubbish when you were losing.
He combined his trademark aggression around the field with being a part of a much-improved England scrum and he’s now in a good position to make the British & Irish Lions squad
Genge has hit back at England’s critics after their Calcutta Cup win over Scotland
‘If that’s the case, when do you become good? I know Wales are in a sticky situation, but going to Cardiff and winning as we did was no mean feat. It was a nice one to finish on, but ultimately, you’d swap all that to win the tournament. That’s what people remember – whether you won the Six Nations or not.
‘I think we’ve got a lot of growth in us. Our set-piece improved a lot in the Six Nations and we started to move the ball a lot better. I’ve said this a load of times, but people really need to understand. France have a lot of their players at Toulouse. The same with Ireland and Leinster. But with England, we have 10 club teams and we’re all over the place. We all play in very different ways and with very different identities.
‘We have to address the fact that when we come into England camp, we do have a bit more making up to do. There’s no doubt if we had a Leinster in England with 15 or 17 players from there in the national team, we’d be a lot better off.
‘That’s just me being honest. It’s not surprising when we come back in, it takes us a bit of time to gel together. We always seem to find our form at the end of tournaments. But I’m not making excuses.’
Now with 71 England caps, Genge, like many players, seems to be getting better as he gets older and has benefited on the pitch by becoming a father off it.
He and Ireland’s Andrew Porter are the likely leading Lions looseheads. Genge also hopes to end the season with a second Premiership title. Genge won the league with Leicester in 2022 and is hoping to repeat the feat with his hometown club.
Bristol are the Premiership’s great entertainers and sit second, 10 points behind leaders Bath with the title run-in hotting up.
Some have questioned whether the Premiership’s try-fest is helping England’s players prepare for tight international matches. As usual, Genge doesn’t duck the topic. ‘The league is entertaining,’ he said. ‘But personally, I don’t think a game that ends 50-48 is good to watch. What does that tell you? Is defence just optional?
Genge is hoping to win the Premiership with great entertainers Bristol, his hometown club
He has benefitted from becoming a father and Genge’s priority will remain his family
‘If that’s the case, we could just play attack like NFL. The high-octane way we play means we’re going to concede a few points. But as a club, I don’t think it was acceptable for us to concede the number we did at Gloucester. We’re better than that and we know it.
‘I understand people enjoy watching the Premiership as it is, but I’m not a huge fan.’
Whatever happens in the rest of his rugby career, Genge’s priority is clear. ‘My responsibility always lies with my family,’ he said. ‘You have to be there for your kids as a father. It’s an important role to play and I do enjoy it.’
Ellis Genge was speaking at The Cabot Learning Federation T1 tag rugby festival at the Bears High Performance Centre.
