Postion-by-position academy productivity: Premiership and PRO14
The Gallagher Premiership and Guinness PRO14 may differ from the NFL in how they go about it, but the process of talent identification and player development is paramount to each competition’s ability to succeed as a professional sport.
Whereas the NFL reaps the uber-talented and resourced pool of players in the college football system, clubs, provinces and regions in the Premiership and PRO14 rely on privately-owned academies or union-controlled pathways out of school and into university or semi-professional rugby.
Each route has its own merits and though these things can often be quite cyclical, where a previously productive academy or college system has a quiet few years, certain institutions can swiftly become known for being particularly efficient at developing players at specific positions.
Miami was regularly referred to as ‘Wide Receiver U’ due to their ability to send high-level receivers to the NFL, whilst Alabama would have a strong grasp on the same mantle for running backs and linebackers right now. It’s a frequent debate among the fans and media of American sports, so what would happen if we transferred the same debate to the Premiership and PRO14?
Below, we have tried to breakdown the most productive academy or pathway in those two competitions over the last 10 or so years – capped at players below the age of 30 – to get an idea of who might be ‘lock A-Cad’, who is leading the way at fly-half and whose raft of wings are the envy of the northern hemisphere.
Continue reading below…
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Loosehead Prop – Bristol Bears
You thought we would go Leinster, right? It’s a fair assumption, given the province’s track record at the position, though Cian Healy falls just outside of this time period and the talented Andrew Porter has since been switched to tighthead. And in addition to that, Bristol’s crop gets nowhere near the appreciation it deserves.
First they brought through Mako Vunipola and then they backed it up with Ellis Genge. That’s the current England and British and Irish Lions starting loosehead and perhaps the biggest threat to his international jersey, both from the same club. Ollie Dawe has also impressed at the U20 level and after a brief sojourn at tighthead, has returned to his favoured position of loosehead where he should kick on. Then came Tom Rowlands who is currently playing BUCS Super Rugby at Bath University and the latest is Andrew Turner, an England U18 international who should be going on to a professional contract this summer.
Hooker – Saracens
It wasn’t going to take long for Saracens to get their name up here and few can argue with their production at the position. England’s incumbent starter, Jamie George, just sneaks in, whilst the club also developed one of his main rivals, Jack Singleton. In addition to the two England internationals, the club also moulded USA senior cap Kapeli Pifeleti, whom big things are expected of in the coming years, and they boast current England U20 Theo Dan.
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Tighthead Prop – Leinster
After narrowly missing out at loosehead, Leinster get themselves on the board at tighthead. Tadhg Furlong is the glittering jewel in their crown, although Porter is pushing him hard for province and for country. The Dubliners also brought through Marty Moore, who is doing an excellent job for Ulster, and they have Jack Aungier as the next man up on the production line.
Lock – Saracens
There’s plenty of competition here, not least so domestically where Bath have brought through Charlie Ewels and Tom Ellis, as well as sitting on a pair of very impressive U18s in Ewan Richards and Ethan Staddon. Over at Leinster, James Ryan is dominant at all levels with Ross Molony and Ryan Baird coming along in his wake, whilst Glasgow Warriors’ contingent of Jonny Gray, Scott Cummings, Callum Hunter-Hill and Cameron Henderson is equally eye-catching.
That said, none can match Saracens at this position, where Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe and Joel Kpoku are all excelling. George Kruis didn’t come through their U18 side, having grown up in Surrey, though they deserve some credit for spotting something in him that no one else did, whilst their impressive cadre is rounded out by Cameron Boon and Jonathan Kpoku, two players with plenty of long-term potential. Don’t sleep on U18 squad member Obinna Nkwocha, either.
Flanker – Dragons
The Dragons might seem an unusual choice at first, but if you delve into the players they have produced in recent years, they quickly look like a very solid selection. Welsh internationals Aaron Wainwright and Ollie Griffiths shine brightest at the moment, though it shouldn’t be too long before they are joined by the likes of Harrison Keddie and Taine Basham as senior international caps. James Benjamin shouldn’t go unrecognised, either, and lock Max Williams could be included as an option on the blindside, too.
The last 10 years have not been the kindest to the Munster academy, though their options on the flank certainly haven’t been limited. Jack O’Donoghue has done well whenever given an opportunity, whilst Gavin Coombes and John Hodnett are the future for the province. Peter O’Mahony falls just outside the bracket, but it’s enough for an honourable mention for the men from Limerick.
Fiji Sevens coach Gareth Baber is social distancing in a tropical paradise, and despite an Olympic dream being postponed, the island has left a lasting impression on him
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No 8 – Leinster
As easy a call as Saracens were among the lock contenders, Leinster’s production at No 8 has been sublime. Even with the time frame missing out on a player as gifted as Jamie Heaslip, Leinster have still managed to nurture and bring through Jack Conan, Max Deegan and Caelan Doris. As far as the quality of that trio goes, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better group in the northern hemisphere at any single position. If you were to shift one of Deegan or Conan over to blindside, Leinster would have been a sure bet to take top spot at flanker, too.
Scrum-half – Gloucester
Scrum-half doesn’t tend to be a position where clubs bring through multiple quality players in a short space of time, although Gloucester have done well to stymie that assertion. Dan Robson achieved great things at Gloucester before going on to do likewise at Wasps, and that’s a pathway that Ben Vellacott will hope is similarly fruitful. Charlie Chapman, a former Scotland U20, is doing well and he has been joined by Stephen Varney, another of the club’s academy to play abroad, as he turns out for Italy U20s. Italy international Callum Braley came through Bristol’s academy, though Gloucester are due praise for his development post-moving to Kingsholm.
One side who could surpass Gloucester in the coming years is Exeter, with the side from the south-west of England currently boasting Stu Townsend, Jack Maunder and Sam Maunder as products of their academy, whilst Tom Cairns, their starting U18 this season, is also gifted. It’s a largely unproven group at this point in time, but it does not lack for potential.
Deep down, despite the little fibs he’d tell himself, he knew it was coming.
. @Scotlandteam and @ExeterChiefs forward @SamSk95 talks to @JLyall93 https://t.co/OsXxVJvhvl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 3, 2020
Fly-half – Leinster
Similar to scrum-half, it can be challenging for clubs to bring through multiple players at fly-half in a relatively short space of time. That said, even with incumbent Jonny Sexton in place, Leinster have managed to develop Joey Carbery, Ross Byrne and Harry Byrne, as well as the versatile Ciarán Frawley. No one else can quite match that quantity of productivity across the two competitions, though Saracens, if Max Malins is considered a fly-half and not a full-back, would be a valid option, as Malins would join Owen Farrell and current England U20 Manu Vunipola.
Centre – Sale Sharks
Sale might have lost a couple of these players to rival clubs, but that doesn’t diminish the productivity of their pathway in the midfield. Both Sam James and Luke James have been integral to the club’s march up the Premiership table, providing playmaking and distribution around Sale’s power and speed options. Will Addison was a consistent performer at outside centre before moving to Ulster in order to represent Ireland and Cam Redpath, who made a mid-season move to Bath, is a phenomenal prospect who could soon be donning an England jersey at the senior level. Young stars such as Tom Curtis and Tom Roebuck could yet find their way into midfield roles, too.
A team to keep an eye on as a potential rival to Sale in the coming seasons is the Ospreys. They’ve bolstered their senior squad with players from other regions recently, though the trio of Owen Watkin, Kieran Williams and Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler could be a special one over the next few seasons.
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Wing – London Irish
Ulster’s band of young wings deserves a mention, with Jacob Stockdale spearheading a quintet of Robert Baloucoune, Angus Kernohan, Rob Lyttle and Aaron Sexton, as does a Scarlets group that boasts Josh Adams, Steff Evans, Ryan Conbeer and Liam Williams, if the latter is considered as a wing and not purely as a full-back.
As far as wing options go, though, you’d struggle to find a better production line than London Irish. Not only have they brought through British and Irish Lion Anthony Watson, they also developed his Bath teammate Joe Cokanasiga. Both players are international calibre and even talented centre Jonathan Joseph spent some time on the wing at Irish when he was coming through. Their next generation of talent is led by Ben Loader, whilst Ollie Hassell-Collins made the headlines this season when he scored four tries against Gloucester in February.
Full-back – Leinster
There are some interesting contenders at full-back but you’d struggle to find a better group than the one produced by Leinster, and that’s without including Rob Kearney, who misses out on this time frame. Leinster have developed Jordan Larmour, Cian Kelleher and Jack Kelly, the latter of whom impresses for the Ireland 7s side now alongside another Leinster academy product, Billy Dardis. The previously mentioned duo of Carbery and Frawley can also be discussed at this position, which is enough to give the province a vice-like grip on this spot and see off the challenges of Northampton Saints and Saracens.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Article intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
2 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
2 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
2 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
14 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
2 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to commentsGood write up, Brett. Rebels are an interesting one for sure. 88 points scored in the last two games, but against two teams that are unlikely to be in the top 4 at seasons end. However the other side of the coin, against the Hurricanes, the team to beat atm, they conceded 54 points, and add in another 53 points to the then high flying Reds, and things don’t look so good. The acid tests will be against the Blues and the Chiefs. I do hope they do contest the finals this year, if only to confound those working on their demise. Les Kiss has made a big difference to the Qld. Reds, and they could so easily have now been sitting unbeaten at the top of the table. But they have now lost some games in a most disappointing fashion, and now step up against the Highlanders this weekend seriously depleted, four absolute key players down, two to suspension, two injured. Of the other Australian sides, the Brumbies look unlikely to fold to anyone any time soon, while the Waratahs and Force both disappoint. But still and all, winning games against the NZ sides is very welcome, and one would hope for more to come. Who will come out on top ? A North Island side for sure should contest the final, but I would hope an Australian side might just get there this year. Brumbies most likely, Qld. Reds could be formidable with a full team back on the field.
12 Go to commentsThe stat that illustrates some progress compared to recent years is that Aussie sides have won 5 of 12 games against Kiwi sides. The Tahs have lost 2 tight games against Kiwi sides, while the Reds and Tahs have contrasting experiences in games against Kiwi sides decided by that farcical thing called golden point.
12 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes pack has stepped up in a huge way this year. Their improvement at scrum time has been a big contributor to their success. Aumua looks like he is playing with a lot of confidence and put in a really good display at both set piece and in general play on Saturday. Him and Numia are putting in a good case for higher honours, A dominate combination with Lomax will help their case. And their loose forward depth is class. Iose has benefited from regular game time and Lakai has shown his versatility and promise. Thanks Nick. Hope all is well.
14 Go to commentsSamoa have enough former internationals who want to flick a switch for a country most have probably hardly set foot in. If you’re that passionate about Samoa, go live and play rugby there to qualify instead of just waltzing into the side and kicking a player actually from Samoa out of the squad. All these ex internationals hasn’t really made them that much more competitive because most look like they're going through the motions.
2 Go to comments