NEWQUAY rugby star Joshua Golden Clarke has enjoyed a remarkable summer turning out for the Great Britain Sevens team and hopes to kick on in the coming months.

Aged just 20, he started his career at local club Newquay Hornets from the age of five, and played right up through to Colts level where he also turned out for Truro College in the ACE League.

He combined his studies with a spot in the Exeter Chiefs Academy, where he featured in the Premiership Under 17 and 18s league.

Since leaving Truro College, the rise has continued.

Now studying BSc Exercise & Sport Sciences at the University of Exeter where he started in September 2023, Josh’s all-action displays in both BUCS Super Rugby and in National League Two West for Exeter and in sevens for Shogun RFC (previously Samurai) led him being invited to a GB Sevens training camp at Hazelwood, London over the Easter period.

Shogun which is led by Terry Sands are one of the best Sevens set ups in the world, where players are only selected on an invite basis and Joshua’s calling came in 2023.

After again impressing at the Great Britain training camp, Joshua was selected for two competitions in June.

First up in Makarska, Croatia, held from June 13-15, Joshua made his Rugby Europe Men’s Sevens Championship Series Great Britain debut where they took on the likes of Lithuania, Germany and Portugal.

The second competition of the year was in Hamburg, Germany a fortnight later and Josh scored two tries as Great Britain came fourth, losing 41-5 in the semi-final to a French side that saw off Italy in the gold medal encounter.

Great Britain were beaten 31-12 by the Spanish in the Bronze Medal match.

Reflecting on his achievements, mum Julie Golden Clarke admits the strides he’s made have been remarkable.

She said: “It was an absolutely outstanding few weeks for Joshua.

“Croatia was a big challenge physically as it was 32 degrees, but he rose to the challenge, showing his true grit and determination.

“Most of the other GB players were contracted full-time players who had previously attended rugby focused private schools, while Joshua was brought up in Newquay but got there via grassroots rugby at Newquay Hornets, Newquay Tretherras and Truro College.

“Croatia gave him a real taste, but it was Hamburg which was really good as they reached the semi-finals before going down to the French who are the Olympic champions.”

After a short break over the summer, Josh has been training hard with the uni and has featured three times for Exeter University in National League Two West against Barnstaple, Cinderford and Luctonians on the wing.

So what’s next? Julie admits Joshua, who was also a national surf life saving beach sprint and beach flag champion, has a burning ambition to forge a career out of the game.

She concluded: “Joshua’s target is to pursue a rugby career and continue developing his skills while also focusing on his university studies to become a sports teacher.”