Tom Dunn showed exactly what it meant to him to represent his country in Rugby’s Greatest Championship after making his long-awaited England debut in Rome.
The Bath Rugby hooker was captured speaking to his family on his phone following his late cameo against Italy as England prevailed 34-5 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Dunn came off the bench to replace Jamie George with two minutes to play and after winning his first cap for the Red Rose, his post-match reaction was captured by England.
The 27-year-old was filmed making an emotional video call to his family, showing off his cap – number 1417 – despite admitting his phone battery was running low.
He also explained how he had over 100 WhatsApp messages and 50 texts congratulating him on his achievement, one that has been a long time coming for the popular Bath man.
Dunn had been named on the bench to face Scotland at BT Murrayfield in the second round of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations but did not get a chance to get on the field.
But even before then Dunn had been in the reckoning for England, first being invited to a training camp with the senior squad by Eddie Jones in August 2017.
He was also named in England’s squad for the 2018 Championship before being called up again two years later, only for his wait to be prolonged by the coronavirus pandemic.
His time finally arrived against the Azzurri, though, and Dunn was not short of well-wishers after making his England bow as the rugby community toasted his deserved success.
Former England and British & Irish Lions winger Ugo Monye said: “Tom Dunn has been class this season for [Bath Rugby]. Thoroughly deserving of his first cap today.”
A host of his Bath Rugby teammates also took to social media to congratulate Dunn, while the man himself said: “Thank you for all the support and messages. Bursting with pride.”
