England forward Alex Coles, the son of two Church of England vicars, is a player far removed from the average rugby jock. With a degree in politics, philosophy and history, a law conversion, and a master's course in sports law, Coles's sporting prowess is not his only forte. Tackling big ideas – as well as big human beings – does not faze him in the slightest.
Coles's Academic Pursuits and Conversation with Kolisi
For his undergraduate dissertation, Coles examined whether South Africa's recent Rugby World Cup wins had any impact on race relations. “The 1995 victory and Nelson Mandela’s presence was seen as a big moment for unifying the country. I wanted to see if there has been a similar effect following recent results and found some evidence of that,” he said. This curiosity led him to approach Springbok captain Siya Kolisi after a Test at Twickenham to arrange a chat on racial unity. “He wouldn’t have known who I was, but he agreed and kindly gave me 30 minutes of his time. I’ve got some of his quotes in there,” Coles added. “It just re-emphasised to me how much [representing South Africa] means to them. It’s a massive focus of collective and individual pride for those players. When you play South Africa you know they’re going to be well up for it.”
On-Field Success and Drive
Coles, 26, has been increasingly prominent for England in the absence of rested captain Maro Itoje. In the 2025-26 season, Northampton did not lose a single Premiership game in which Coles featured, and he was influential in the final win against Exeter. Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby, praised him: “He’s been brilliant for England as well. The way he thinks about the game is different. He’s incredibly driven, incredibly smart and consistent. If you get those three things together it allows you to do a pretty good job.”
Purpose Beyond Rugby
Coles credits his parents – his father, Alasdair, is a consultant neurologist and honorary chaplain at Addenbrooke’s hospital – for his inner drive. “At the moment I don’t have that religious purpose, but I see in their lives that sense of ‘something else’ that you’re driving towards and gives you meaning. It’s so powerful. I’m not trying to compare rugby to that, but it’s always been very important to find a purpose in my life,” he said. Winning the Premiership title was the latest step along that road.
Preparing for the Springboks
The match on Saturday against Kolisi and the hard-edged Boks will reveal how far Coles has to go. “You always have the belief you can do it, but the more experience you get helps add credence to that belief. I’ve just got to keep trying to develop my game and show what I can do when I get a chance, rather than trying to be someone else,” he said. A trip to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in April allowed him to rest after a gruelling few months. “There wasn’t some deep awakening, but it was beautiful there. From the outside you wouldn’t realise how important those rest weeks are sometimes. I’d played in most of the games for Saints and England and I was pretty physically and mentally screwed,” he explained. Reflecting on England’s Six Nations campaign, he added: “That England campaign, especially, was really tough. We put a lot of physical, mental and emotional energy into that and then to get those results and the reaction … I get why the noise was there but it does drain you.”
Looking Ahead
Coles is ready to front up to the muscular challenge posed by the Boks. “One of my big ‘whys’ is having something competitive to go after. A goal, a purpose. That’s really important for me. It adds a meaning to life. I don’t want to go from day to day just treading water. It’s nice having something on the line. That gets you out of bed in the morning,” he said. Could it be the turn of the Educator, one of his nicknames at Northampton, to teach Kolisi and co something new? The Coles family will not be alone in saying a quiet prayer to that effect.
