Benjamin Edimesumbe Loader (born 8 November 1998) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship. He will join Premiership Rugby side Gloucester ahead of the 2025–26 season.[3]

Career

Loader began playing rugby at local club Reading Abbey.[4] At the age of fifteen he joined the academy of London Irish and on 14 October 2017 made his professional debut in a EPCR Challenge Cup game against Edinburgh.[4][5]

Loader represented England during the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and scored a try in the last round against Ireland.[6] Later that year Loader was a member of the squad that finished runners up at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[7] On 2 June 2019 he made an appearance for an England XV side in a non-cap friendly against the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium.[8][9]

In May 2022 Loader came off the bench as London Irish were defeated by Worcester Warriors in the final of the Premiership Rugby Cup.[10] The following year saw Loader depart the club after they encountered financial issues and in June 2023 it was confirmed that he had joined Stormers.[11]

In February 2025, Premiership side Gloucester announced they had signed Loader from the Stormers ahead of the following season.[3]

Personal life

Born in England, Loader is of Cameroonian descent through his mother.[12] He was educated at Reading School and Wellington College. His younger brother, Danny Namaso, is a professional footballer.[4][13]

References

  1. ^ "Benjamin Edimesumbe Loader". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ben Loader". London Irish. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Gloucester to sign ex-London Irish back Loader". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Bennetts, Julian (14 February 2018). "Meet Ben and Danny Loader - Britain's most talented sporting brothers". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ Coles, Ben (4 April 2024). "Ben Loader interview: English winger on life in Cape Town after joining Stormers". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ Tracey, Cian (16 March 2018). "England's Under-20s overwhelm Ireland to secure a big win at the Ricoh Arena". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ "England U20: Ben Curry called up for World Rugby U20 Championship". BBC Sport. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Loader on special week for the family". London Irish. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  9. ^ Meagher, Gerard (2 June 2019). "England XV 51-43 Barbarians". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  10. ^ Peddy, Chris (17 May 2022). "London Irish 25-25 Worcester Warriors: Worcester win Premiership Rugby Cup with most tries after extra time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (18 June 2023). "Loader signs two-year deal with Stormers". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Owain (23 May 2021). "On an upward curve". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Loader aims to add to family silverware". BBC Sport. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2020.


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