SCRUM-HALF Louis Pereira is buzzing for his new challenge at Rams having joined the club from Cardiff Met University.
The 22-year-old, who began his career as a six-year-old at Andover RFC alongside fellow summer signing Mike Cooke, also studied at Westgate School before moving onto the Peter Symonds College in Winchester, where he said Head of Rugby Mike Marchant was a big influence.
From there a sports coaching degree took Louis to Wales, and having played in both the Welsh Premiership and BUCS sides along with another recent recruit, flanker Max Brown, the duo are now ready to make their mark at Old Bath Road.
Explaining how he got into rugby and some early struggles at Cardiff Met, the former London Irish youth said: “My dad (Paul) and brother (Harri) always played and my brother always took me down the park he’s been a big role model and I just loved the sport.
“Harry went to Met and while he didn’t play rugby, I knew it was a high standard and it was my first choice.
“But in first year I missed pre-season which meant I dug myself a pretty deep hole, I started in the 7ths – it was testing because you go from being one of the well-known ones at Irish to entering a massive pool where there are no hand-outs. It felt brutal.
“Then I started to make progress and worked my way through the sides before an injury (fractured distal fibula) meant I stopped playing for a bit.
“But then I came back, got a proper pre-season done and was asked to join the performance squad – it took a while, a lot of perseverance, but it also makes it satisfying.”
He continued: “In the past couple of years I feel I’ve kicked on an am now buzzing for the new challenge.
“Being from Andover I knew the club and Rams were my first-choice option to play a good level coming back from Uni, so I’m very grateful they’ve given me the chance – now I have to work to get a foot in the door and try and kick on again!
“The chat with (Director of Rugby) Seb (Reynolds) was huge, he made it so welcoming, and I feel part of the team already – I’m buzzing to meet everyone.”
Pereira is currently recovering from an ankle injury but is chomping at the bit to show the Rams’ supporters what he can do, explaining: “I feel like I’ve got pace and flair, but also playing in the Welsh Prem has given me much more of a game understanding.
“It was a battle to stay up, very nitty-gritty, but I believe my game management, tactical kicking and aggression certainly built up because I couldn’t afford to be making rash decisions.
“It’s a tough league – there are a few punches thrown, but it helps make you mature and you’re learning every single game whether you win or lose.
“And now coming to OBR, I’ve been doing my research, I’ve watched a couple of the games on YouTube, and to know I’m joining a club with great fans like Rams is awesome.”
