Joel Awanka S. Kpoku (born 22 June 1999) is an English-born Congolese rugby union lock who currently plays for Section Paloise in the French Top 14.
Growing up in Hackney, Joel Kpoku had never had the chance to see a rugby ball before moving to Southgate and discovering the sport in Year 7.
[6] Richard Hill played a key role in recruiting the two brothers to the Saracens, joining the academy.
[4] Joel Kpoku's professional career began promisingly in England with the Saracens when he was 19, scoring a try against the Leicester Tigers in his debut appearance in October 2018.
[14] On 19 November 2021, Joel Kpoku left the Saracens to join Lyon OU,[15] replacing Etienne Oosthuizen, who had retired for health reasons.
In his debut match for LOU, on 27 December 2021 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre against La Rochelle, he suffered a serious knee injury in the 33rd minute.
[22] Despite an offer to extend his contract with LOU,[23] Joel Kpoku chose to join the sectionniste project led by Sébastien Piqueronies,[24] which is being rebuilt after the retirement of Sam Whitelock.