Chandler Cunningham-South: Growing up in New Zealand to facing All Blacks with England

New Zealand v England second Test

Date: Saturday, 13 July Kick-off: 08:05 BST Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

New Zealand is uncharted territory for many players in this young England squad. The majority had never visited the country before this tour, let alone played rugby here.

But for flanker Chandler Cunningham-South, it has been a case of coming back to his second home.

“I was concerned how he would feel, coming home and facing the haka,” said his mum Caroline over a coffee in Auckland.

“But he was prepared and he knew he had made the right decision.”

The 21-year-old, reflecting on the first Test in Dunedin, added: “It was very cool. I felt very proud to be playing for England here in New Zealand.”

Born in London, at the age of four Cunningham-South and the family relocated north of Auckland.

“We came for a bit of an adventure and we never went back,” explained Caroline.

The family embraced the Kiwi way of life, with Chandler throwing himself into mini rugby at Silverdale Rugby Club, quickly being bumped up the weight categories.

“He was always heavy!” said Caroline.

“A very good friend of mine was on the committee when it came to the weighing in at Silverdale after his first season of playing Rippa [a non-contact form of the game for children aged five to seven].

“They popped him on the scales and then strongly suggested to me he should go to Tackle [the next level up].

“I was horrified – he just jumped up and down saying: ‘Tackle! Tackle! Tackle!’ And that was that.

“He played a lot of sport, lots of different codes and kept us very busy. But rugby was always his love. He loved to tackle and loved to run.”

England fans have seen those attributes in spades since Cunningham-South burst on to the international scene when he made his debut against Italy in Rome in February.

But it took a leap of faith to get to this point.

At the end of 2021, Cunningham-South’s development in New Zealand had stalled. Despite being on the radar of professional sides, he was without an academy contract.

Frustrated with the lack of opportunities, he put together a highlights reel in his bedroom and sent it around the world. London Irish came calling and he moved back to England aged just 18.

“Mum wasn’t too happy, but she’s ok with it now!” said Chandler with a laugh.

Caroline added: “I am incredibly proud of him. He had realised he was at a point that if he was going to make it, he needed an academy position somewhere.

“There were none on offer in New Zealand, so it was suggested for him to look around the world, and he did.

“He has always known his own mind and I trust him to make sound judgements. And the rest is history, I guess.”

Cunningham-South quickly made waves at Irish, but when the club went out of business in the summer of 2023, there was a further twist.

Returning to New Zealand, with his reputation forged, was a live possibility before he moved across town to Harlequins.

“There was a chance to come back to New Zealand, but it wasn’t the best move for Chandler,” said Caroline.

“He said to me: ‘I am a London boy, mum.'”

Chandler explained: “I always had the identity that I am English living in New Zealand.

“I had the Kiwi accent! But it has slowly fizzled out.”

Before Saturday’s showdown at Eden Park, there are a few issues for the family to navigate.

For Chandler, it is dealing with the blizzard of ticket requests from old friends. For Caroline, it is balancing up her English roots and support of her son with the affinity she has for her adopted home.

Singing both national anthems at the first game was her sensible compromise.

“I am British-born, but New Zealand is my home,” she said.

“I can enjoy [the game] – once he’s done his first catch or tackle. Once that is out of the way he settles down, and I settle down, and we both enjoy the game.”

Chandler added: “Everyone’s journey is different, mine is a bit weird, but I’m happy.”

As Cunningham-South continues to excel in a white shirt, England supporters both in Auckland and at home will be glad the way his journey has worked out.