Mikolaj Oledzki on his Ashes call-up: ‘I didn’t know what rugby league was when I moved to England’

The Leeds prop moved from Poland 15 years ago. Now he is preparing to face Australia in the Ashes at WembleyBy No Helmets RequiredFifteen years ago, a Polish primary schoolboy was getting to grips with life in the Northamptonshire steel town of Corby. His parents had moved from Gdansk, giving up successful careers back home to start a new life in England. Young Mikolaj Oledzki had never even seen rugby league on TV – and yet this week the Leeds prop is preparing to play world champions Australia at one of the world’s most famous stadiums.“Sometimes I still look around and I can’t believe I’m in this position,” he said at Wembley on Tuesday afternoon. “That nine-year-old boy wouldn’t believe it if you said I’d be playing professional sport, never mind at the top of it. I didn’t know what rugby league was.” Continue reading...

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