• England prop building a collection of body art on his right foot • Genge hoping for Six Nations start against Wales on Saturday

Heard the one about the England player hoping to get a Welsh dragon tattooed on his foot? Those who say rugby is short on characters have clearly not met Ellis Genge, the Leicester loosehead prop, whose taste in inspirational body art is putting the boot into Six Nations convention.

To mark significant English Tests and overseas tours, the 23-year‑old likes to have a reminder of the experience inked on his right foot. Despite having only six caps, he already has a wide array of designs including wallabies, a springbok, a puma and a shamrock to denote successful recent England performances against Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Ireland, among others.

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Genge, yet to taste defeat in an England jersey, is likely to be involved in Cardiff on Saturday along with Exeter’s Ben Moon as Eddie Jones seeks to fill the gap left by the injured Mako Vunipola.

Should he feature, the Bristolian says a fiery dragon will be added to his tattoo collection. “I have got all my Test matches on my foot,” he said. “If I play, I’ll get a dragon. I didn’t really want to get tattoos on my arms so I just got one on my foot and it kept going from there.”

Given he could have a lengthy Test career and rugby-themed tattoos on his left foot are off limits – “that’s for leisure” – he may soon have to start decorating another body part.

When the dragon materialises, however, it will not displease everyone around him. “I have got a Welsh missus, so I don’t mind the Welsh. They are a patriotic bunch, aren’tthey? Very passionate but so are the English. It always makes for a good Test match.”

With Genge having allayed concerns over a slight ankle injury sustained in training, his teammates believe he could make a big impact at the Principality Stadium. “He’s got an edge to him,” the England hooker, Jamie George, said.

“When I play with him I know what we’re going to get and it’s an amazing thing to have. He will go hard and he’s going to be aggressive. You know you’re never going to have to give him a pump up; he’s always ready to go. He’s a brilliant talent.”