Ellis Genge has long walked the tightrope of rugby’s trickiest challenge: channelling aggression in the white heat of battle.

This is Genge’s first British & Irish Lions call-up, famously joking four years ago that his "emails were broken" when he was not selected by Warren Gatland for the Tour of South Africa.

However, the 30-year-old is certainly no stranger to Australia, having scored his first Test try there in 2016 and playing a prominent role in Brisbane and Sydney wins that secured England their 2022 series.

With 71 caps since making his international debut after just 19 Premiership appearances, Genge arrives Down Under as one of the most experienced of Andy Farrell's tourists, listed by many pundits as a potential Test starter too.

And while he claims his superstitious nature means he’s playing things cool, don’t doubt what it means.

'I DIDN'T SHOW EMOTION'

"I've had a few people tell me I didn't show much emotion when I was selected, but inside I just felt like I was going to implode," said Genge.

"I'm asthmatic and my chest was a bit tight because the pollen count was so high, so I could barely breathe anyway. It was seriously twitchy and I was sweating. The whole thing lasted 20 minutes, but it felt like a year.

"I got home and the missus had put the kids in Lions outfits. That could have been a disaster if I'd not been selected."

Genge is aware of the prestige that comes with a Lions selection, though he admits to being a latecomer when it comes to learning the storied history of those that have gone before.

However, he certainly knows that forging a cohesive front row from players used to the furnace of Six Nations rivalry isn’t straightforward. Fellow props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong all return, having toured South Africa, while Genge joins newcomers Finlay Bealham, Pierre Schoeman and Will Stuart.

"I think I've got some making up to do. I've been a bit horrible over the years and said a few questionable things," he jokes.

"We’ve all crossed paths but the mutual respect is there and it doesn’t take long to bond a front row. We’re a peculiar bunch props and we won’t have too many dissimilarities.

"I’m looking forward to it coming together. I’ve got a bit of every nation in me anyway – Welsh, Scottish, Irish, English – I’m the full house when it comes to the Lions."

BRISTOL BEGINNINGS

Born in Bristol, Genge grew up on the Knowle West council estate, finding rugby as the perfect vehicle to channel what he admits was a confrontational attitude that left him far from the model student at school.

READ MORE: Where to watch The British & Irish Lions this summer

He tried his hand at football, golf and boxing before his father finally decided the physicality and teamwork of rugby were a perfect fit, Genge joining the under-13 team at Old Redcliffians.

"Both my parents had a huge influence on me, and my dad got me trying everything – karate, boxing, judo and football – before he decided on rugby," he recalled.

"We tried golf too, but I was a nightmare on the course, so that didn’t last long."

It was during a friendly match for Keynsham against Colston’s that Hartpury College talent spotter Alan Martinovic saw his raw potential.

He soon captained them to victory in the ACE League and guided a team of 'Invincibles' to a 55-match winning streak over five years.

Unsurprisingly, he quickly earned international age-group recognition, where England youth coach Bobby Walsh immediately said the aspiring back row forward belonged at the business end of the scrum.

"I was quite an angry teenager and didn’t have a lot of time for private schools – so I remember that match against Colston’s because I wanted to get one over on them," adds Genge.

"I’ve been incredibly lucky to have some great coaching influences over my career. I thought my future was at No.8, but I worked hard to put on extra kilos when I switched position.

"I used to dominate people by being the biggest at school but when that wasn’t the case anymore, it was pretty hard to come to terms with.

"I never liked being told I was a back rower playing at prop. My game is all about physicality and aggression, so it was an easy transition for me to move to the front row."

Genge’s 111 appearances for Leicester are sandwiched between two spells for native Bristol, where he admits to being a Rovers fan before becoming a talisman for the Bears.

GENGE FUND CHARITY

He now uses his profile in the city to good effect, with his Genge Fund charity working to create opportunities for young Bristolians to thrive through education, mentorship and community engagement.

At 14 he was diagnosed with dyspraxia, a neurological condition that can affect coordination and fine motor skills, and he has worked hard to raise awareness as an ambassador and advocate for neurodiversity in sport.

"I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 14. I was messy, my timekeeping was poor, and I was a bit lazy – a bit of a nightmare at school, to be honest," he said.

"As I’ve got older, I’ve understood the condition more. At the time, there really wasn’t much knowledge about dyspraxia.

"My passing was woeful and kicking was abysmal. I’ve never had the luxury of getting drills wrong – I need to keep repeating things, finding my super strength and homing in on that.

“Being dyspraxic doesn’t stop you competing in sport at the top level, but because it’s not a physical disability, it tends to get overlooked. Hopefully I’ve proved that if you fight enough and want it, things can happen – but you have to be committed."

It’s a mantra for life that will be invaluable during the weeks ahead in Australia.