As Patrick Komongnan was marched through the gates of his Washington DC school by two burly cops, many wondered if the 13-year-old would ever amount to anything.

But now, 10 years on, man now known as PJ has travelled the world, represented his country and turned his life around.

The transformation has been one that PJ acknowledges as remarkable and he puts it down to… rugby.

"It's been one heck of a journey," PJ said after training with Gloucester Rugby's Premiership stars including Olly Barkley, Luke Narraway and Mike Tindall.

"I was brought up on the wrong side of the track and was always in trouble," said PJ.

"I was often out of school and would hang around in gangs making a nuisance of myself.

"When I was 13 I was arrested at school for fighting. I just had no focus and didn't really care."

One of those days when PJ was making a nuisance of himself was the day he thinks his life changed for the better.

"I was throwing glass on to the rugby field and the coach came over to ask me what the hell I was doing," he said.

"I told him 'I'm throwing glass on the field' and when he told me players could get injured I just said it didn't bother me."

"The coach told me to come and meet the players. He threw me the ball and basically told them to lay into me and I ran for my life.

"These guys were 200lb and I was only 103lb so I didn't want them getting anywhere near me.

"I think the coach thought 'this kid can move' so he then asked me to tackle someone and although I thought 'no way' I did it and that was the start of something special."

That day at the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School in Washington, rugby coach Tal Bayer had unearthed a true talent and PJ has since played for USA U19s and the national Sevens team.

He is travelling the country championing a new global business venture, Ultimate Rugby Sevens, that is aimed at promoting the shortened form of the game.

More importantly for PJ's mother, the sport was giving her son somewhere to vent his frustrations safely.

PJ said: "I think rugby channelled my anger. I was able to control it through the day and let it out on the pitch later.

"I also found that I loved the sense of camaraderie in rugby. The realisation that you have to be a team for things to work.

"I also loved the fact that I could smash a big guy perfectly legally and that afterwards he would buy me a beer.

"It was crazy to me. If we had a fight on the street then we hated each other for ever and you were forever looking over your shoulder but these guys were buying me a beer and having a chat.

"The sport saved me and I know my mum thinks that too; she is very glad I found it."

Former Gloucester great James Forrester, who played 144 games for the club, watched PJ in action earlier this week. "I think the guys were very impressed. They say he can turn on a sixpence and has very sharp feet.

"He also has a good attitude and is very keen to learn which is half the battle in this game."

PJ added: "Just training and spending time with these guys was a great honour. I feel very lucky."