Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Saracens nab 131kg tighthead prospect from Premiership rivals Harlequins

By Online Editors
Josh Ibuanokpe to join Saracens. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Saracens have nabbed themselves a promising tighthead from one of their Premiership rivals.

Harlequins prop Josh Ibuanokpe has made 10 appearances for the Quins this year, scoring a single try.

ADVERTISEMENT

Coming in at 6’2″ and 131kg the former Number 8 joined Quins’ Academy in July 2014 from Dulwich College, a school he helped win three National Schools Cups in successive years.

He balanced his time with the Twickenham outfit alongside his further education at Bristol University where he studied Chemistry for three years.

Ibuanokpe made his Harlequins senior debut in the 2017/18 Anglo-Welsh Cup against Saracens and went on to sign professional terms ahead of this season.

The England age-grade tighthead’s first Premiership and European outings have both come this year and he is ‘relishing the opportunity’ to progress in north London.

“Saracens have a history of developing young players and I’m excited to see how far my game can develop with them,” the 23-year old said.

“I know a few of the players at the club and they’ve spoken about the tight-knit nature of the squad.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Director of Rugby Mark McCall said: “We are excited to have signed a player of Josh’s potential and look forward to working with him at Saracens.”

You may also like: The Academy – Episode 3 – Behind the scenes with Leicester Tigers’ academy programme

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Why the All Blacks are serious about giving Sam Whitelock one last hurrah Why the All Blacks are serious about giving Sam Whitelock one last hurrah
Search