Alex Coles seeks deeper meaning in England's match against Kolisi and tough Boks

Many people in South Africa believe England does not fully understand the challenge ahead. To be a Springbok means representing the hopes of millions and feeling a unique and powerful spirit. Siya Kolisi was likely surprised when a young English player approached him after a game in Twickenham to talk about racial unity.

The player was Alex Coles, a forward for Northampton, who is quite different from the usual rugby player. His parents are both Church of England vicars. His mother, Olivia, writes her sermons on Fridays so she can attend his Saturday matches. Alex also believes strongly in having a purpose in life that goes beyond just the result of a game.

Coles has a degree in politics, philosophy, and history, followed by a law conversion course. He is now studying for a master’s degree in sports law. He says, 'Maybe in the future I’ll end up representing Henry Pollock if he does something wrong…'. This shows that Coles is interested in big ideas as well as physically strong opponents.

He explained his undergraduate dissertation: 'In my dissertation for my undergraduate degree I looked at whether South Africa’s recent 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. It’s really interesting to look into it and see how important that sport is for that country as a whole. It’s fascinating.

This interest is why, after playing his third game for England in late 2022, he wanted to speak directly to Kolisi. Coles said, '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.' He added that the conversation '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.

Although his dissertation did not receive the best grade – 'I didn’t get as good a mark as I’d have liked. Maybe we’ll send it back' – England definitely has an intelligent player in their pack, especially with their captain Maro Itoje resting. The 26-year-old might not always get the same attention as other players, but his overall contribution as a skilled lineout player and an active presence on the field has become increasingly important.

During the 2025-26 season, Northampton did not lose any home games in which Coles played. He was also a key player in their final win against Exeter, which was not surprising to anyone.

Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby, commented, '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.'

Coles feels his parents, including his father Alasdair, a consultant neurologist and chaplain, have influenced his strong motivation. '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.'

'One of my big ‘whys’ is having something competitive to go after. A goal, a purpose. It adds a meaning to life.'

Winning the league title was the latest step in his journey. The upcoming match against Kolisi and the tough Springboks will show how much further he has to go. He stated, '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.'

Another important experience was a trip to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco last April. This allowed him to rest his body and mind after a difficult few months. He recalled, '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.

'That England [Six Nations] 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. The injury was a bit of a blessing in disguise in that sense… I’d had a decent run of games and being a forward, it’s attritional stuff. I’m definitely feeling more fresh towards the end of the year.'

He is now ready to face the physical challenge from the Springboks. Coles said, '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.'

Could Coles, nicknamed ‘the Educator’ at Northampton, teach Kolisi and his team something new? His family will certainly be hoping so.