The 22-year-old Polish-born flanker missed his side’s relegation battle at Carmarthen Quins to win his first 15-a-side cap against the Netherlands in the Rugby Europe Trophy tournament. The unbeaten home side came out on top 7-6 as they added to their big wins over Germany and the Ukraine.
Originally from Poland, Rubasniak came to Wales when he was seven and played through the Dragons age grade teams and for Ebbw Vale. He recently graduated from Cardiff Met with a Master’s degree in strength and conditioning.
At Cardiff Met he played at Twickenham in the 2018 BUCS Super Rugby final defeat to Hartpury and has now beaten some of his full-time professional team mates, Alex Dombrandt, Luke Northmore and Max Llewellyn, to full senior international honours.
“We are delighted for Dawid and it is a nice honour for the club as well. We could have done with him at Carmarthen, but there was no way we were going to stop him from playing for Poland,” said Ebbw Vale head coach Greg Woods.
“I’ve known him a long time, ever since he was in the Dragons set-up, and he has worked really hard to get to this stage. He always wanted to play for his home country and now he has done it.”
Rubasniak now works in the Health and Fitness industry and has used his S&C background in roles at the Whitchurch High School Rugby Academy and also Poland Women’s Under 18 sevens teams.
He has been a regular in the back row for the Steelmen this season, impressing with his pace and power. He has played sevens for Poland, but was only called up into the 15-a-side training squad by their Irish head coach Duaine Lindsay.
Ebbw Vale has produced internationals for other countries down the years other than Wales – Arthur Smith (Scotland), Guy Easterby (Ireland), Duncan Bell (England) and Kuli Faletau (Tonga) – while other players in the Welsh Premiership have also played for European teams.
Bridgend outside half Jamie Murphy is a German international, while Pontypridd stalwart lock Chris Dicomidis has played for Cyprus. The great Brive and Cardiff back row forward Gregori Kacala is a former player and coach of the Polish national side and is a member of the governing body in his home country.
The Poles led a recruitment drive for British-based and qualified players last year and uncovered a number of future caps. Ronan and Lawrie Seydak, who both play for Edinburgh Academicals in the Scottish Premiership, have now been capped, as have wings Ross Cooke (Gala) and Aron Struminski (Taunton).
Chinnor prop Thomas Fidler packed down in the Polish pack with Rubasniak in Amsterdam. They will both be hoping to pick up more international experience when Poland head to Lithuania on 18 April.
