RugbyRebels

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 11:54 am U20s EPS announced today. Looks pretty strong on paper, with one point of interest the appearance of Hathaway, who was involved for Wales U20s last year.

From a LI point of view, it's interesting to see Fasogbon (prop) involved. Only turned 18 at the end of August, but is a massive human and was pretty dominant carrying the ball at U18s.

Forwards
Archie McArthur (Gloucester)
George Patten (Northampton Saints)
Calum Scott (London Irish)
Finn Theobald-Thomas (Gloucester)
Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)
James Halliwell (Bristol Bears)
Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
Harry Browne (Harlequins)
Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Danny Eite (Gloucester)
Robert Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers)
Joshua Manz (Leicester Tigers)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
Josh Dingley (Bath Rugby)
Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)

Backs
Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
Sam Worsley (Bristol Bears)
Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)
Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks)
Benjamin Waghorn (Harlequins)
Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester)
Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
Connor Slevin (Harlequins)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:01 pm Absent an A team, playing u20's should perhaps commit you to play for that country? Playing at this level shouldnt be just a matter of convenience. If you genuinely dont intend to play for the country, then make yourself unavailable.

SDHoneymonster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:19 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:01 pm Absent an A team, playing u20's should perhaps commit you to play for that country? Playing at this level shouldnt be just a matter of convenience. If you genuinely dont intend to play for the country, then make yourself unavailable.

World Rugby changed the rules a few years back so that countries couldn't name their U20s as their 'capture' side. Wales and France both definitely used to but had to change, I think South Africa and Italy did for a year or so before the law was changed as well. I think the law change was designed partly to stop the south Pacific school raids France were conducting at the time, at least unofficially.

SDHoneymonster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:21 pm

SDHoneymonster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:19 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:01 pm Absent an A team, playing u20's should perhaps commit you to play for that country? Playing at this level shouldnt be just a matter of convenience. If you genuinely dont intend to play for the country, then make yourself unavailable.

World Rugby changed the rules a few years back so that countries couldn't name their U20s as their 'capture' side. Wales and France both definitely used to but had to change, I think South Africa and Italy did for a year or so before the law was changed as well. I think the law change was designed partly to stop the south Pacific school raids France were conducting at the time, at least unofficially.

Also, I think a lot of the Welsh boys use it as an opportunity to train and improve in what is a better and more professional schoolboy system in England, and I suspect representing England often comes as a caveat to them being signed or offered scholarship, especially if they're England-qualified already.

SDHoneymonster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:21 pm

SDHoneymonster wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 4:19 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:01 pm Absent an A team, playing u20's should perhaps commit you to play for that country? Playing at this level shouldnt be just a matter of convenience. If you genuinely dont intend to play for the country, then make yourself unavailable.

World Rugby changed the rules a few years back so that countries couldn't name their U20s as their 'capture' side. Wales and France both definitely used to but had to change, I think South Africa and Italy did for a year or so before the law was changed as well. I think the law change was designed partly to stop the south Pacific school raids France were conducting at the time, at least unofficially.

Also, I think a lot of the Welsh boys use it as an opportunity to train and improve in what is a better and more professional schoolboy system in England, and I suspect representing England often comes as a caveat to them being signed or offered scholarship, especially if they're England-qualified already.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:30 pm Jonny Williams
Cameron Redpath

Just about any othe inside centre, for that matter.

SDHoneymonster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 11, 2023 9:38 am Also worth pointing out RE: Redpath, he'd pretty much only broken through into the Bath first team six months before Scotland capped him - I know he'd already been in England squads but he was there as an apprentice and had yet to really play any first team rugby. I think he said something along the lines of he needed to be playing international rugby when he accepted the callup (also worth pointing out England did want to name him in their squad by all accounts, I think Scotland/Townsend were willing to guarantee him some game time when Jones wouldn't), which at the time struck me as slightly arrogant for someone barely out of their academy kit. On the flipside, given he'd already had significant injury problems at that point, taking your first guaranteed chance of a cap is also fairly understandable. There is also the very real possibility his dad might have disowned him had he pulled on an England shirt!

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:16 pm Nick Tompkins, just to annoy the mod.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:58 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:30 pm Jonny Williams
Cameron Redpath

Just about any othe inside centre, for that matter.

Neither of those were players who went through the U20s without any intention of playing for England though - they both accepted England seniors callups of varying types and decided to go another direction when England didn't cap them and a Celtic nation called them up after*. They're not really germane to the original objection.

Puja


*Although in Redpath's case, that was more injury than lack of will to cap him by England.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 3:11 pm

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jan 12, 2023 2:16 pm Nick Tompkins, just to annoy the mod.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:58 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:30 pm Jonny Williams
Cameron Redpath

Just about any othe inside centre, for that matter.

Neither of those were players who went through the U20s without any intention of playing for England though - they both accepted England seniors callups of varying types and decided to go another direction when England didn't cap them and a Celtic nation called them up after*. They're not really germane to the original objection.

Puja


*Although in Redpath's case, that was more injury than lack of will to cap him by England.

Puja

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:32 pm

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 11:54 am U20s EPS announced today. Looks pretty strong on paper, with one point of interest the appearance of Hathaway, who was involved for Wales U20s last year.

From a LI point of view, it's interesting to see Fasogbon (prop) involved. Only turned 18 at the end of August, but is a massive human and was pretty dominant carrying the ball at U18s.

Forwards
Archie McArthur (Gloucester)
George Patten (Northampton Saints)
Calum Scott (London Irish)
Finn Theobald-Thomas (Gloucester)
Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins)
Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)
James Halliwell (Bristol Bears)
Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
Harry Browne (Harlequins)
Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Danny Eite (Gloucester)
Robert Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers)
Joshua Manz (Leicester Tigers)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
Josh Dingley (Bath Rugby)
Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)

Backs
Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)
Sam Worsley (Bristol Bears)
Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)
Joseph Woodward (Leicester Tigers)
Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks)
Benjamin Waghorn (Harlequins)
Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester)
Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
Connor Slevin (Harlequins)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)

Fair to say that is a beefy old pack! I don't think I've seen a bigger group of tightheads! Though not just bulky, it's dynamic and by no means lacking in skills.

Really pleased to see Nye Thomas in there. Would have liked to see Jake Garside too, but hey ho. Good options at flyhalf and fullback. Hopefully Joe Woodward gets good game time; he looks classy. Lacks a little sparkle in the backline. They're all decent and very talented, but I'm more excited by the forwards this year.

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Mon Jan 09, 2023 6:43 pm Pollock is still at school, whilst it is a seriously competitive backrow.

Mr Mwenda wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:38 am Is "worldy" the name for his haircut?