33 - 29

42 - 19

22 - 19

43 - 14

45 - 30

29 - 13

24 - 23

37 - 10

32 - 27

22 - 24

32 - 13

21 - 10

30 - 26

23 - 33

57 - 17

35 - 18

17 - 36

12 - 8

Thursday

15:00

20 players aged 20 and under to watch out for in the Pro14: Pt 1

By Rhiannon Garth Jones

06 Apr 2020

The Pro14 is a great league for promising young players.

It’s often said that the lack of relegation in the Pro14 allows teams with a focus on Europe to rest their stars in the league until they are needed for the serious end-of-season business, devaluing the competition.

Perhaps that’s true but the flip-side is that Pro14 fans frequently get the chance to see thrilling young talents emerge in their weekly rugby fixtures. The possibility of witnessing the emergence of the next Stuart Hogg (who made 100 Pro14 appearances before he turned 25) or George North, who broke onto the scene at 17, is an ever-present in this league.

Every league has talented young players break through, of course, but the more common practice of squad rotation in the Pro14 means fans get to see more than just the superstars emerge regularly.

Continue reading below…

RugbyPass takes a look at some of the most promising names to watch in the Pro14 aged 20 and under.

Ryan Baird, Leinster, lock

Where else to start but at Leinster, whose academy could probably fill this list. Baird announced himself with a hat-trick against Glasgow Warriors just before the season was postponed, showing remarkable pace for a lock, as well as mobility. He’d already made his senior debut during round 21 of the 2018–19 season, however, and been involved in an Ireland camp at the start of the year. He calls lineouts too, just in case you were worried. A ferocious second row partnership with James Ryan looms, for both province and country.

Errrrrrrrrm what???? ?

Last time you saw a lock do this???

?? Watch Live Now on @eirSport
??Watch Live Now on @PremierSportsTV
#GuinnessPRO14 #LEIvGLA pic.twitter.com/Kjx7J2g3Bf

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) February 28, 2020

Jac Morgan, Scarlets, back row

Captain of the U20s team, five Pro14 appearances under his belt, an impressive ball carrier and a good jackal — Morgan is definitely one to keep an eye on, if you’re not already. Coach Brad Mooar has described him as “an outstanding young prospect and it looks like he has been doing it all his life.” The Welsh back row factory just produced another member and, while the path to senior international honours is crowded, he is already breaking into the Scarlets matchday squad. His versatility will help but his ball carrying will likely prove the point of difference.

Jack Blain, Edinburgh, wing

The first player born in the year 2000 to represent Edinburgh, Blain’s exciting form throughout the age-grade levels for Scotland has meant he has been training with the senior team for a while now. He only has one Pro14 appearance to his name so far although he might have expected more as Cockerill balanced his international players’ welfare towards the end of a long season. An exciting prospect for this increasingly impressive Edinburgh team.

A group of players were pictured together breaking New Zealand's strict Covid-19 controls, which state that households have to stay within their own 'bubble' and maintain social distancing.https://t.co/4cA7fjO7BT

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2020

Federico Mori, Zebre, centre

Italy’s age-grade teams have been emerging as a force for a while now and 19 year-old centre Mori is yet another example. He made his debut in the Pro14 — marking it with a try that showed his pace and power — before playing in the top Italian championship for Calvisano, with whom he is jointly tied, and has enjoyed Challenge Cup rugby this season too. He could make a very interesting addition to the Italian backline in a few years but, before that, expect to see much more of him for Zebre.

Dewi Lake, Ospreys, hooker

It’s been a tough season for Ospreys fans but the prospect of Dewi Lake has been one of the bright lights. He is a very modern front row with an all-round game and was training with the senior side during the Six Nations. He looks like he might be able to make the step up in physicality well. The former U20s captain skippered his side to a rare victory over New Zealand last year and much is expected from him in the future.

Leicester Tigers prop @EllisGenge has been tearing it up so far in our FIFA 20 tournament! ?

Follow more of the tournament by heading to our YT platform! ?? #RugbyPassFIFAPros pic.twitter.com/APoR0k72lA

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2020

Elrigh Louw, Isuzu Southern Kings, back row

The junior Springbok had a relatively late breakthrough in schools rugby but has made 12 appearances so far this season for Kings, starting seven and scoring a try against Munster in his second game. Kings list him as a No8 and that’s where most of his time this season has been, although he is also comfortable in the second row and the blindside flank. He is likely to continue to benefit from the South African side’s current focus on developing youth as part of a long-term plan.

Craig Casey, Munster, scrum half

Highly rated by Munster fans and with good reason, Casey has built on his Pro14 debut last season with some impressive cameos, including two Heineken Champions Cup appearances where he wasn’t intimidated by his more illustrious — or much taller — opponents. He has been rewarded with a senior contract for next season and looks to be a player Munster will use more and more, especially since he already seems comfortable managing a game at this level.

In the latest instalment of our new series, @alexshawsport picks out the five key attributes for hookers and the players that best exemplify those qualities.https://t.co/dh1F16g6MN

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2020

Jamie Dobie, Glasgow Warriors, scrum half

Scotland suddenly have a number of promising, high-tempo young scrum halves and Dobie might be the most exciting of the lot. Warriors offered him a professional contract straight out of school, gazumping their Edinburgh rivals, with then-coach Dave Rennie describing him as “one of the most exciting young talents in the country”. He already has eight appearances under his belt this season and, despite being one of the youngest players on this list, has shown impressive physicality and pace at this level.

Hayden Hyde, Ulster, centre

Another example of the successful Irish Exiles programme, Hyde could have stayed with Harlequins and England — both of whom wanted him. But he has been part of the Irish set-up for years already and packed his bags to move to Belfast when Ulster came calling. He starred in Ireland U20 Triple Crown before their remaining games were postponed, showing the physicality he developed in his earlier career as back rower as well as his running and passing ability.

The incident has been met with criticism from large swathes of the rugby community and from health officials in New Zealand. pic.twitter.com/twUOjPG6gp

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 6, 2020

Ioan Davies, Cardiff Blues, fullback

The fullback impressed during last year’s U20 World Championship and this season has earned a call up to train with the senior Wales squad, as new coach Wayne Pivac cast his eye over those rumoured to have a big future. He also made his first Pro14 appearance against Edinburgh at the end of February and will have hoped to kick on before the season was postponed. Davies has an exciting turn of pace but, at this age, it is his defensive insight and high ball composure that impress more — comparisons with Leigh Halfpenny might be a little premature but there is more than a touch of the former Blues fullback to his game.

Watch: Anthony Watson v Billy Burns in the last 16 of the RugbyPass FIFA Pros competition.

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim

What is life like for those who traverse the rugby world as supporters, and is the game as accessible as it should be?

LONG READ

England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit

Twickenham played their part in a classic encounter but England contrived to play the part of gallant losers once again

LONG READ

Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

England yet again fluffed their lines against the All Blacks when they had built a comfortable lead and questions are being asked

Comments on RugbyPass

JWH 35 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.

If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.

It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅

28 Go to comments

JW 44 minutes ago

'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

Yeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?

It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.

That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.

79 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Good point

7 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

That would work too.

28 Go to comments

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Riley Higgins incoming.

28 Go to comments

Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

You don't win anything if you don't back yourself. If a South African said that, people would just accept it as their psyche. I think you'd expect Ben to bring that to a team with his experience. England lacked the experience and the bench to close out the match. IMO anyway.

7 Go to comments

Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?

Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.

On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.

Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.

On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.

Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments

MakeOllieMathisAnAB 2 hours ago

All Blacks talk late-game adjustments after clutch England win

Which 2 backs make the bench?

BB being injured has kind of made things complicated.

Rueban Love is the most like-for-like, covers 10 and 15….. but 10 in a test?

Plummer would be safer option for first five cover, also covers 12.

Then ALB covers 12-13.

I think the sensible choice would be Plummer and ALB, but I’d rather see Plummer and Rubes.

That might be a bit much for a test this size but if they lit it up it would be one hell of a story.

Leaves our midfield too light for cover though.

Front row could be interesting. Ofa in my opinion is too important to leave out at the moment and needs to be on the rimu.

Mighty Temaiti will be better off for last weekends experience, he offered more around the field than DeGroot has in his last few games.

9 Go to comments

CO 2 hours ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.

In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.

Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.

Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.

That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.

The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.

To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.

It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.

The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.

At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.

It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.

However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments

BM 2 hours ago

All Blacks lose Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor for Ireland Test

Billy Proctor is on way to welcome his first child in NZ !

26 Go to comments

Alex 2 hours ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

It is getting really frustrating with some of the selection calls. Have been willing for some time now to give SB the benefit of the doubt, but they just felt like real schoolboy errors tbh. England did better than I thought they would given it's a first hit-out, but their back three and pack must be so frustrated with just not getting enough quality ball from the centres. Clearly Alex Mitchell is missed, and a creative centre is needed, which has been the issue for a loooooooong time now.

18 Go to comments

JN 2 hours ago

How the All Blacks plan to challenge Ireland after gutsy England win

I may be wrong, but Blackadder is at home in NZ recovering from injury.