20 players aged 20 and under to watch out for in the Pro14: Pt 2
The structure of the Pro14, a cross-border competition where the unions (directly or indirectly) have a strong influence on player availability, means young players often feature more prominently.
The first part of this RugbyPass look at some of the most promising young names to watch in the Pro14 featured a number of players who have already made an impression in the league and received attention from their international coaches.
Who features in Part 2? Read on…
Sam Costelow, Scarlets, fly-half
The jinking young fly half is included for his impressive U20 performances, which now number 13, including his one-man dismembering of England in this year’s Six Nations U20 tournament, although he won’t get a chance to play in the Pro14 until next season when he returns to Wales to play for Scarlets. He is another who has been called up to train with the Wales senior squad and there were even rumours he might be called upon for the senior matchday squad when it looked like Dan Biggar wouldn’t be eligible — an indication that the hype train is alive and well for this exciting talent.
Rory Darge, Edinburgh, back row
Scotland’s U20 captain has already experienced some of the lows rugby has to offer: serious injury and relegation (last year, Scotland were the first Tier 1 side to be relegated from the World Rugby U20 Championship since Italy in 2012) but has bounced back this season with a number of impressive performances. He is abrasive, physical, and comfortable across the back row — qualities you would imagine Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill would consider worth a closer look at in the future.
Harry Byrne, Leinster, fly-half
The computer upgrade to older brother Ross Byrne has already spent time in the Ireland camp. With nine appearances, including three starts, under his belt this season, Byrne junior is clearly another Leinster youngster to benefit from the province’s integrated approach to youth development, getting his opportunities with more experienced players on hand in the team. In each of his three starts so far, Leinster put at least 50 points on the opposition and Byrne himself picked up Man of the Match awards in the first two. Not a bad start to a professional rugby career — and Leinster’s track record suggests he can keep it up.
Gavin Wills, Isuzu Southern Kings, scrum-half
It has been a tough few seasons for Southern Kings, with everything in flux. New owners appear to have some stability in mind for the longer-term, with a focus on young players. One of those could be Wills, signed this season. His one appearance so far, from the bench in a miserable 50 drubbing at the hands of Glasgow Warriors, will have been a tough introduction for him but Sarel Pretorius is an experienced pair of hands to guide him through. Kings need players to build around and Wills could be one.
Ben Warren, Cardiff Blues, prop
The former No8 has featured throughout the Welsh age-grade set-up, coming through early to the U20s and cementing a starting position from the off. He is another member of the U20 side who memorably defeated New Zealand in the 2019 World Championship, alongside Ioan Davies, Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, and Sam Costelow. Wales have a nice stable of dynamic, promising young props who are gaining early international experience and the Blues tighthead prop looks like he could add to that group with a few seasons of Pro14 rugby under his belt.
Thomas Ahern, Munster, lock
Surprisingly mobile for a 6’9″ man, Ahern has the potential to be a hybrid of Devin Toner in the lineout and an Iain Henderson type around the park. In his second year at U20 level, he stepped up to the leadership group and led the way with a brace of well-taken tries as Ireland clinched a triple crown against rivals England. At Munster, he has been picking the brains of the senior locks at every opportunity and that attitude, with the expertise available to him, could well ease the transition to the next stage.
Aneurin Owen, Dragons, centre
Dragons have had a serious talent pipeline for some time now and you’d be forgiven for expecting the exciting young Taine Basham in this slot. But Basham has almost 30 Pro14 appearances under his belt over the past three years and a senior call-up — you should have been watching him for a while.
His regional teammate Owen is one of many exciting young players at Rodney Parade, particularly because his background at fly half has given him the skill set to be the playmaking 12 many Welsh fans crave at senior level. Most of his exposure has been for the U20s, the Celtic Cup, or the Welsh Premiership but Owen is highly rated and will surely get his chance soon.
Michael Mba, Benetton, wing
Mba is arguably a cheat selection because he doesn’t yet play for Benetton and isn’t formally attached. That said, he is from Treviso and they are the nearest Pro14 team to his current side. More importantly, Mba is one of the most exciting talents in Italian youth rugby and was arguably the decisive factor in the U20 side avoiding relegation last season. He has serious pace, a killer instinct for the tryline, and would add some much-needed depth to the Azzurri senior squad if he could prove himself in the Pro14.
Niall Murray, Connacht, lock
Ireland’s young depth in the second row isn’t letting up, with the fiercely competitive Murray also breaking through. Connacht had a rough start to the season with injuries, giving Murray the opportunity to make his mark on some big games. With two interpro derbies, two Heineken Champions Cup games, and an important match against Edinburgh under his belt, the former GAA and soccer player has now been exposed to the serious end of the competition without letting anyone down.
Scott Penny, Leinster, back row
We started with a Leinster player and, inevitably, we finish with one too. Penny made his senior debut for Leinster in 2018 before he’d featured for the Irish U20s — although he put that experience to good use as he starred in Ireland’s 2019 U20 Grand Slam campaign. He’s clever, quick, and very mobile and looks like he could make an exhilarating back row for the future with Max Deegan and Caelan Doris. He’s already made 13 appearances for Leinster, most of them starts, and looks very comfortable at this level already. He’ll almost certainly be one of the next Leinster wunderkinds in the Irish camp before long.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments