Biyi Alo (born 16 March 1994) is an English professional rugby union player who plays for Ealing Trailfinders in the English Championship. Alo has also released two hip-hop songs, under the name 'Biyi'.[2]

Biyi Alo
Birth nameAkinbiyi Olabamigbe Alo[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-16) 16 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birthWestminster, England[1]
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight131 kg (289 lb; 20 st 9 lb)
UniversityLoughborough University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Tighthead Prop
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2016
2015–2016
2016–2018
2018–2019
2019–2022
2022–2023
2023-
Saracens
Bedford Blues (loan)
Worcester Warriors
Coventry
Wasps
Racing 92
Ealing Trailfinders
7
15
30
6
46
6
0
(0)
(0)
(25)
(0)
(20)
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 24 October 2018
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012
2014
England U18
England U20
3
3
(0)
(0)
Correct as of 4 March 2015

Club career

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Alo came through the academy ranks of Saracens and during this period he spent time on loan at Bedford Blues.[3] He was a member of the Sarries side that defeated Exeter Chiefs to win the 2015 Anglo-Welsh Cup.[4] The following year saw him leave for Worcester Warriors.[3] After making thirty first-team appearances for Worcester[5] a move to French club Soyaux Angouleme was agreed in 2018 however the transfer ultimately didn’t materialise and for health reasons he took a break from rugby.[6][7]

Alo returned to professional rugby at Coventry who he joined in October 2018.[7][8] After a short spell at the club he was scouted by Wasps and initially joined as injury cover, making his club debut against Leicester Tigers on 2 March 2019 with the deal being made permanent three days later.[5][7] Alo was a second-half replacement for Jeffery Toomaga-Allen in the 2020 Premiership Final as Wasps finished runners up to Exeter.[9][10]

Wasps entered administration on 17 October 2022 and Alo was made redundant along with all other players and coaching staff.[11] After made redundant from Wasps, Alo signed for top French club Racing 92 for the rest of the 2022-23 season.[12]

On 23 April 2023, Alo returned to England to sign for ambitious Championship side Ealing Trailfinders from the 2023-24 season.[13]

International career

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Alo was a member of the England under-20 team that won the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship and was on the bench for the final against South Africa at Eden Park.[14] In June 2022 he was called up by Eddie Jones to join a training camp with the senior England squad.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Biyi Alo". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Biyi". Spotify. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  3. ^ a b Morgan, Charlie (14 September 2017). "Meet Biyi Alo - the heaviest player in Premiership history who is still Worcester's 'baby'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. ^ "LV= Cup final: Saracens 23-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Biyi Alo: Wasps sign Coventry prop on permanent deal". BBC Sport. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Biyi Alo: Worcester Warriors prop to leave for French side Soyaux Angouleme". BBC Sport. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Bridge, Bobby (19 February 2022). "Wasps prop Biyi Alo opens up on his career-changing decision: 'I thought let me try punish myself'". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  8. ^ Smith, Paul (22 October 2018). "Coventry Rugby sign former Saracens and Worcester prop". Coventry RFC. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  9. ^ Pilnick, Brent (24 October 2020). "Premiership Final: Exeter beat Wasps 19-13 to secure historic double". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  10. ^ Bridge, Bobby (25 October 2020). "Exeter Chiefs 19-13 Wasps". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  11. ^ Bridge, Bobby (17 October 2022). "Wasps' administration confirmed as 167 employees made redundant". CoventryLive. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Premiership's heaviest ever player confirms next club after Wasps exit". Ruck. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Biyi Alo set to be Ealing Trailfinders' next impressive signing". Rugby Pass. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  14. ^ Standley, James (20 June 2014). "Junior World Championship: England 21-20 South Africa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  15. ^ "England: Injured prop Kyle Sinckler to miss Australia tour". BBC. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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