Sean Sabutey has made a flying start to his Workington Town career and scored five tries in one game.
Brought over from Australia by Town I thought it was high time we caught up and had a chat about his career back home and his feelings about life in Workington.
Just to start with Sean can you tell us about your early involvement in the game in Australia?
As a young child I grew up playing football all the way through the rep ranks until the age of 12 where after a rep season I came to realise I did not have the passion for the game.
I played oztag (tag rugby) and from this my friends grew to realise the skill I had with a rugby ball and I was persuaded to play by my best friends when I entered high school in year 7 and I’ve been playing ever since.
Which teams did you play for over there and what have been the stand-out moments for you?
My junior footy was with the Emu Plains Junior Rugby League club which then led me to be signed by North Sydney Bears who had representative squads from Harold Mathews up to NSW cup.
I also played a season with St Mary’s and the Glebe Dirty reds. My greatest, stand-out moment was when I Was awarded the North Sydney Bears sports player of the year.
You’ve had experience of international rugby. How did that come about and how did it go?
I was fortunate enough to represent Ghana in a MEA tournament last October when it was an honour to put on the jersey representing my father’s home country.
The experience was amazing. I met the best bunch of lads and got to spend time with my dad who currently lives there running his beach club resort.
I have now set my dreams at being named in the Irish rugby league squad to then do the same for my Mother’s side of the family.
When did you first learn of Workington’s interest and has it always been your plan to play in the UK?
My manager Luke Srama sent footage of me in action over to the UK in the hopes of a club signing me as I wished to test my ability overseas.
I have dual citizenship through my mother’s Irish nationality which helped the process.
Apart from the weather what’s been the main difference you’ve found in Workington and how have you settled in the town?
The slang and dialect would have to be the main difference as some of the words and quotes I’ve heard make me laugh but will be with me for the rest of my life!
Everyone in Workington has welcomed me with open arms and I’m so grateful that I’m amongst such warm and welcoming people. They truly make me feel at home and I’m very appreciative of this.
You’ve made a big impression so far with some eye-catching try-scoring. What has been the best you’ve scored and the highlight of your time so far?
Definitely the five tries I scored in the game against Midlands Hurricanes! That was a milestone for me and I’m super happy I got to do that for the team and hopefully there’s many more to come before the end of the season.
What have you thought of the standard of rugby in League Two compared to what you’ve been used to back home?
The standard of rugby shocked me to be completely honestly, although it is nice not coming up against the big and powerful Pacific Islander boys week-in-week-out haha!
But the quality is definitely up there. As a whole the competition would be lower than back home but the individual talent of players in the UK is just as good as back home.
Did you come over here with any specific target in mind for the season and how much did you know of Workington Town and the town itself?
My first target was to prove my worth from being sent over from another country. I wanted to show everyone at Workington I was a good signing and to also show everyone back home what I was made of after having a few hurdles after the Covid pandemic.
I didn’t know a great deal of the club but was told it was huge. After getting a complete run down from the ‘Famous Patch’ my right hand man at the club I grew to know all the history of Town and I am so pleased to be able to be part of this historic club.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far?
There’s a huge list of people who have been influential for me, particularly my family and friends who mean everything to me.
My mother and my nanna have pushed me and pushed me to be great, whether that’s from buying me healthy food to fuel my body or to supporting me at every match.
But the greatest influence to my entire sporting career from the very start was my Granda Frank. Unfortunately he passed a year ago and it saddens me that he is not getting to see my overseas adventures with my career – but I know he’s given me some extra luck with some of the tries I’ve scored.
He would take me to every single training session, whether that would be at 6am in the city for under 20’s training to driving me to every match even as an adult and I’m going to make it as far as I can for him.
When you’re not training or playing how have you been filling your time in Workington?
Outside of my rugby training and personal training I’ve taken an interest in the Lakes as I’ve been doing some cool hiking and trail runs with some team mates.
Whenever I get a weekend off I also take the time to try and see all the major cities in England, or try and duck off to a European country, which has been absolutely amazing.
