Six Premiership players who could benefit most from a stint in Super Rugby
Joe Marchant and Jamie Roberts were two Gallagher Premiership exports to the southern hemisphere this season, the Harlequins centre enjoying a loan with the Blues and the Welshman moving to the Stormers from Bath.
Despite the season now being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, these were moves that looked to have benefitted each player on a personal level and their rugby career.
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The 23-year-old Marchant mentioned the different pace of the game in Super Rugby, but it looked to be a change that suited the centre as he managed three tries and two assists in six appearances.
Crossing the equator for Super Rugby is a path not taken often enough by northern hemisphere players, be it down to financial reasons or the hectic structure of the competition. Players have done it before, but not enough for the liking of some in the game.
With that in mind, here are six Premiership players that could benefit from a stint in Super Rugby:
1. Marcus Smith
Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith could follow in the footsteps of club teammate Marchant and make the move south next year in another loan deal.
The 21-year-old is one of the precocious talents in the Premiership having been a fixture in the Quins team for over two years now and already having featured for an England XV against the Barbarians last year.
However, with Owen Farrell and Geroge Ford still Eddie Jones’ favoured options at No10, there may still be a window for Smith to get a taste of a different rugby environment without sacrificing any caps.
As a player who likes to play flat and with a great turn of pace and footwork for breaking the line himself, Smith is not too dissimilar to a young Danny Cipriani, who made the move south almost a decade ago and spent two seasons at Melbourne Rebels.
The pace of the game would suit the Harlequin. It may be a scene in which he thrives and adds more to his attacking armoury.
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2. Freddie Burns
The underused Bath player still has many years of top rugby ahead of him, but he won the last of his five England caps in 2014.
In the same way Jamie Roberts has used his rugby career to see the world, as well as test himself in different cultures, there are many others that could make use of this approach as well.
This applies to many players in the Premiership, but Burns’ creativity and flamboyant style is comparable to fly-halves from the other side of the world, meaning he could be a hit in Super Rugby.
The 29-year-old has revealed he is on his way out of the Rec and a move would be interesting. There is always the option for a payday with a move to Japan, but Super Rugby is a better setting for players to stretch themselves.
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3. Thomas Young
The Wasps and Wales flanker finds himself in an odd position. His current contract will expire at the end of the season and with the departure of his father Dai earlier this year from his long-held position of director of rugby, he may not have a great incentive to stay at the Ricoh Arena.
Equally, a move back to Wales in order to add to his three caps has not been signalled either yet.
The No7 jersey is one where the southern hemisphere has often served up players that those from the north cannot compete with.
It is perhaps the position that has had the greatest gulf in class between the two sides of the world in the professional era. It would therefore take some player to prove himself in Super Rugby in such a competitive position.
The 27-year-old Welshman is someone that is hugely popular and while he may not have many caps to his name, he is more than capable of mixing it with the best.
The loose forward’s breakdown expertise, alongside a reading of the game that means he has a hand in so many parts of a match, could work well in the southern hemisphere.
It would do his playing career no harm at all. Depending on how contract issues resolve over the coming months, it could be a viable option.
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4. Ben Loader
New Zealand seems to have an endless conveyor belt of world-class wingers and it doesn’t look like stopping, so there is no place more perfect for any inspiring winger to have a stint in.
London Irish’s Loader is a player tipped to have a bright future but isn’t in the international reckoning yet. If moves like Marchant’s are to become increasingly popular, the 21-year-old Exiles winger seems a prime candidate to follow his lead.
Rieko Ioane, Sevu Reece, George Bridge and Jordie Barrett are just some of the All Blacks wingers that are still playing in New Zealand and have not yet reached their prime.
To be competing with these players on a weekly basis could improve any player’s game immeasurably.
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5. Beno Obano
One of the clearest divides between the two hemispheres over the years has been the skill set and ball handling of the tight five.
That gap has shrunk over recent years, with teams like England showing a lot of skill and subtlety from the front row forwards.
But in the echelon below Test standard, the speed and width of the game in the southern hemisphere necessitates forwards must have good hands, so a move south for any high level front five player in the Premiership could pay off.
The rugby would be nowhere near as abrasive and it would be a chance to hone skills that are not demanded as greatly in the UK and France.
Bath’s Obano is on the cusp of the England team. The loosehead’s strength and scrummaging prowess are not doubted, but adding more strings to his bow could help him burst onto the Test scene.
?BREAKING ? Maro Itoje voted the world's best lock in 2020 by majority decision. Ohhh Maroo Itooooje, ohhhh Maroo Itooooje. ????? #EnglandRugby #Saracens pic.twitter.com/laYxpHy8rS
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6. Maro Itoje
There is a lot of speculation surrounding Saracens players ahead of next season as the reigning European and English champions must spend a season banished from rugby’s top-flight.
Of all players, the biggest cloud seems to be looming over England’s Itoje. A big money move to France for a season has been speculated, but that link with Racing ran into trouble.
Should he instead move from north London for a season in Super Rugby, it would be fascinating to see one of the leading locks in world rugby come up against some southern hemisphere giants week after week.
Itoje would cross paths with Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, who will both return to Super Rugby next year after sabbaticals in Japan.
Having said that, the mother lode of world-class locks may not be in the south any more as many of South Africa’s premier second rows now actually play in Europe.
A Super Rugby move would of course mean Itoje’s participation in the Six Nations would be ruled out, and there may be issues regarding selection for the British and Irish Lions.
WATCH: Freddie Burns talks RugbyPass through his fitness regime during coronavirus lockdown
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments