Steven Adu’s life may have been a Cinderella story so far — but that doesn’t mean he won’t get rough on the rugby field.

The 27-year-old grew up in the Jane and Finch area, with roots in Ghana, and began his athletic career on Don Bosco’s football field under late mayor Rob Ford’s guidance.

Adu said Ford inspired him to pursue football professionally. Now, he’s gunning for a spot on the new trans-Atlantic Toronto Wolfpack rugby team.

“When I was 16, Ford encouraged me to come to his high school,” Adu said at Lamport Stadium Friday, a day ahead of the Toronto tryouts for the rugby team.

“Rob Ford changed my life. We lived in government housing. There were a lot of things about the area I grew up in and he didn’t want me to be part of that. I wanted football to move my family out of that situation. I was the first person from Don Bosco to get a pro shot.”

Adu attended Bishop’s University in Quebec on a football scholarship, and graduated in 2014 with a psychology degree. Immediately, he was signed by the CFL’s Ottawa RedBlacks, but at 5-foot-9 and 192 pounds, his stint was cut short.

“Coaches said I was undersized,” he said. “I moved to Alberta for work and currently, I’m a youth worker and a winger for Alberta Broncos (rugby team).”

Though football was his first love, he’s really taken to rugby.

“I have the speed, the tackling. I only lack the experience. I can apply the work ethic and commitment it takes to be a pro athlete.”

Toronto is one of five player trials for 15 North American hopefuls. Tryouts are also being held in Philadelphia, Tampa, Fla., Kingston, Jamaica, and Vancouver. A documentary crew for the reality show Last Tackle is tagging along until November. The team will begin playing in March, with its first home game in May at Liberty Village’s Lamport Stadium, known as “The Den.”

“We’re seeing if there’s any talent that will be good enough to compete over in the English team,” said Wolfpack CEO Eric Perez. “Competition is super tough. It’s the oldest league in the U.K. It’s been going since 1895, it’s the second-most watched league behind the Premier League Soccer. I think there’s enough raw talent in Canada and U.S. that we can compete with them.”

Adu remains hopeful his Cinderella story will have a happy ending — as long as it involves him tackling people at full speed.

“I think I have the advantage because this home turf,” he said. “Toronto is my home city and I take pride in this team. If (the team) starts picking up, I think you’ll see more hockey players, football players (who) can’t make it in their profession, but can make it in rugby.”

jyuen@postmedia.com