Will Hobbs Joins Brexin - (Britballers Re-Locating To Europe X Increasing Numbers)
One Of Britball’s Brightest Talents Has Just Signed To Play In The Swiss League Next Year With The Seven Times National Champion Calanda Broncos.
Recently playing his British senior ball with the Northern conference champion Tamworth Phoenix, and currently lighting up uniball with the university of Nottingham, twenty five year old Hobbs has now been playing contact football for nine years. At the age of sixteen he joined his home town Nottingham Caesars junior side and was soon making an impression as an uncompromising running back. That wasn’t a surprise given his heritage as a junior rugby union stand-out. When his rugby club closed down their junior programme, American Football was the beneficiary. Will had an interest in the game, having been an avid watcher on TV. Under the tutelage of Caesars Coach Matt Walker, who harnessed his athletic talent. Relishing the contact inherent in the sport, Hobbs was soon a playmaker on both sides of the ball. “Matt Walker inspired my passion for the sport and developed me early on as a player” recalled Hobbs. He started his university league career with Hull Sharks, where he was the feature back for three years, and continued to play for the Caesars senior programme.
Having graduated, he moved to Sheffield Hallam to complete his masters and played for the championship winning Warriors, before that he also joined the then Sheffield “Predators”, looking to continue his running back career. Due to a healthy depth chart in the offensive backfield, he was persuaded to try out at safety, he excelled in the role, and is now recognised as one of the top defensive backs in the country. Along the way, he also featured for the Great Britain student’s team, helping them to defeat Finland.
With his masters degree secured, he headed back down the M1 to his hometown, and Nottingham university, where he would undertake a further teaching qualification. He secured a position as a sports scholar and helped them become one of the stronger programmes, featuring as a safety, kick returner and option quarterback!
Always looking to challenge himself at the highest level possible, he joined the Tamworth Phoenix as they continued their rise to become the premier outfit in the north. It was here that he benefitted from some elite level coaching from Great Britian Lions DB coach, Martin Hilton and defensive guru Jason Scott.
In the 2016 season he was a key contributor on a rampaging Phoenix team that went undefeated in the regular season, only to lose to the London Blitz at the semi-final stage. Having now been part of eight different programmes, he will join his ninth team, the Calanda Broncos, as a professional baller. He has signed a one season deal and heads out to Switzerland in March to prepare for the season with his new team-mates. Between now and then he is undertaking an intense off-season programme to ensure he is ready to make an impact from the get-go. They are looking to him to dominate from his safety position, and also to operate as a back-up option quarterback.
He gives credit for making all the right football decisions to friend and mentor, David Saul (currently playing for the Potsdam Royals in the German Leagues). The Broncos may not realise it just yet, but they will also get a leading field fashion icon, who is known in the UK for his innovative football swag style!
It’s always good to see talented Britballers doing well and making their mark at a higher level, the disappointing thing is, that he and numerous others, have had to move outside of the British senior leagues to do it.