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'Dean has uncanny eye to pick out talent, they usually come through unusual pathways'

(Photo by Chris Lishman/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

England boss Eddie Jones has praised the recruitment strategy of Dean Richards at Newcastle, an approach that led to the North-East club getting rewarded with the biggest representation of the seven clubs that have provided 21 uncapped players in the summer series training squad that assembles next Monday in London. 

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With players from the four Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists off limits along with the dozen chosen to tour South Africa with the Lions, Jones opted to massively refresh his England set-up following on from their disappointing fifth-place finish in the recent Guinness Six Nations.

Jones has chosen a 34-strong squad for next week’s five-day training camp and with seasoned internationals such as George Ford, Jonny May and Mark Wilson all rested, he has opted to give youth its fling as he attempts to find some fresh talent capable of performing at Test level. 

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Newcastle were the England squad’s biggest winners in terms of the number of newcomers as they had five uncapped players included, forwards Jamie Blamire, Callum Chick, Trevor Davison and Sean Robinson along with flying winger Adam Radwan.

Leicester were the next-best in the uncapped list, providing four players in Joe Heyes, Harry Wells, Dan Kelly and Freddie Steward, with London Irish, Wasps and Bath supplying three uncapped players each. The list was rounded off with two international rookies from Northampton and one from Gloucester.   

“It’s the quality of players,” enthused Jones when asked by RugbyPass about what he particular likes regarding what is going on at Newcastle, who are lying in tenth place in the Gallagher Premiership table with one match remaining in their first season back in the top flight following relegation.  

“Dean (Richards) has got an uncanny eye to pick out talent and they usually come through the unusual pathways, not the usual way with (England) 16s, 18s, the 20s. They usually come through a more diverged pathway and he has got an eye for that talent. They have played consistently well and they are being rewarded for their performances.”

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England’s summer series opens with an A team match versus Scotland at Leicester on June 27 followed by July Test matches versus the USA and Canada at Twickenham and it will be most interesting how many of these 21 training week rookies go on to earn a debut cap. Asked what his target of new caps might be, Jones replied: “As many that deserve it, mate. 

“We were lucky enough in the last series four years ago in Argentina to uncover talents like Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Mark Wilson and if we were able to have that sort of success in producing a couple or three really good Test players we would be delighted.” 

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JW 27 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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