Ten of rugby's brightest young talents set to shine in 2021
With age-grade rugby having been all but cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, opportunities for exciting youngsters to show their talent on the global stage over the past 12 months have been limited to say the least.
Elite sport has managed to continue in the face of these considerable challenges, but unfortunately age-grade rugby has not been given the same freedom and many of the players that would have lit up the U18 or U20 competitions in 2020 have had quieter years as a result.
With vaccines now being administered the world over, hopefully a more normal sporting year beckons in 2021 and we have identified 10 players from the Guinness Six Nations and the traditional Rugby Championship nations to keep an eye on over the next 12 months, as they could swiftly rise to recognition at the senior level.
Connor Evans, lock, Western Province and South Africa
The Bishops product, who is English-qualified, committed his immediate future to Western Province earlier this year, despite significant and financially lucrative interest from clubs in England, and will be one to watch in South Africa’s domestic U21 Championship and Currie Cup competitions.
Far from just a physical presence on the field, Evans boasts very impressive handling skills and is developing into one of the prototypical modern second rows who is able to blend the physicality of being an enforcer, with the ability to make an impact at the lineout and in the loose, too.
Alex Kendellen, back row, Munster and Ireland
A talented all-round loose forward, Kendellen impressed for two years at the U18 level with Ireland and went straight into the Munster academy out of school. At those age-grade levels his ball-carrying was a point of difference and with noteworthy mobility to boot, Munster will have a welcome headache in how they develop him moving forward and where he would ultimately pack down in the senior side.
For now, Kendellen has his work cut out battling through a back row pecking order that has seen homegrown products Jack O’Donoghue, John Hodnett and Gavin Coombes really push the incumbent stars in the province’s senior squad of late.
Carwyn Tuipulotu, back row, Scarlets and Wales
From one back row to another, Tuipulotu is a name that has been known for a while now, with the former Sedbergh pupil having been signed to a long-term contract at the Scarlets when he was just 16 years of age. With his schooldays now behind him, the sizeable loose forward is able to focus full-time on his rugby.
The 18-year-old has already made his senior debut for the region and if his transition to senior rugby continues to go well, his prospects as a dominant ball-carrier who can get sides over the gain-line look to be very bright.
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, wing, Blues and New Zealand
An honourable mention for the Hurricanes’ Ruben Love, with both players being worthy of mention here, though Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens efforts at the Mitre 10 Cup level for Taranaki just nudge him ahead. The 19-year-old recently signed for the Blues and should be a part of their Super Rugby squad in 2021, a franchise who have had no trouble identifying and bringing through talented youngsters in recent years.
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens will be up against it to get ahead of the likes of Caleb Clarke, Mark Telea and Emoni Narawa over the next 12 months, but he is an adept finisher, has the pace to hurt defences and plays more physically than his already considerable frame would suggest, so don’t rule him out from being one of the Super Rugby rookies to shine in 2021.
Charlie Atkinson, fly-half, Wasps and England
Atkinson has come in slightly under the radar due to Alfie Barbeary’s dominant performances at the senior level at Wasps, though that should not detract from the high-quality showings Atkinson has turned in just a few short months after leaving Abingdon School. What has made Atkinson’s early impact even more impressive is that he is doing it at a position that requires any player, regardless of age, to be a leader and game manager.
The 18-year-old has looked entirely at home competing with Lima Sopoaga and Jacob Umaga, an All Black and an England call-up respectively, and plenty of credit must go to the coaching staff for the faith they have had in him, just as Harlequins, who are now reaping the rewards, showed with Marcus Smith a couple of years ago.
Matthias Haddad, flanker, La Rochelle and France
You could be forgiven for feeling despondent when you see the likes of Grégory Alldritt, Kevin Gourdon, Victor Vito and the uniquely talented Levani Botia ahead of you in the senior ranks, though Haddad is quite the talent himself and someone who has a very bright future in the game. Despite all the riches coming through in the French back row at the moment, the one thing Les Bleus may lack is competition in the form of an old-school jackalling openside, and that’s something Haddad could provide in the coming seasons.
He shone at the U18 and U20 levels with France and singled himself out among back row units that have, at least in recent history, been dominated by explosive ball-carriers and physical enforcers. Haddad could yet be the joker up France’s sleeve in 2023 and beyond.
Tommaso Menoncello, centre, Benetton and Italy
Following the emergences of Marco Zanon and Federico Mori in the Italian midfield, the Azzurri could be beginning to build the kind of competition at the position they need in order to compete consistently with the top 10 nations in the world. Menoncello should complement those two over the coming years and could make his debut for Benetton this season, having had his final season of U18 rugby denied to him due to Covid.
If he takes to senior rugby, he could be the more elusive and pacier option to get the best out of the physicality that Zanon and Mori bring to the centre pairing. Keep an eye on Riccardo Favretto, too, who should similarly add competition to the young group of locks forming in Niccolò Cannone and Cristian Stoian.
Ben Muncaster, back row, Edinburgh and Scotland
When the 19-year-old moved back to Scotland earlier this year, having been on a scholarship at Rugby School, it came as a blow to Leicester Tigers, where he had been very effective ball-carrying number eight in the Premiership club’s U18 academy. That decision to return to the country of his birth will have been warmly received by both the SRU and Edinburgh.
There are few better players to learn from than Viliame Mata in the Scottish capital and with Edinburgh often being hit hard during the international windows, Muncaster could get his opportunity sooner rather than later.
Jeral Skelton, back row, Rebels and Australia
A couple of years older than the majority of other players on this list, the 21-year-old Skelton has made the move over the XVs from sevens and could be the latest in a lengthy line of transitioning players to make a big impact in the longer format of the game. Skelton’s speed, physicality, ball-carrying and handling are all impressive and look well-suited to Super Rugby.
If the Rebels can put Skelton in space and have him utilise that experience from the sevens arena, he could be a difference-maker in a franchise that has struggled to keep pace with the front-runners at the top of the Australian conference.
Bautista Grenon, back row, Santa Fe and Argentina
It is a worrying time for Argentinean rugby, who look to be without a professional side in a top tier club competition and their future in international competition also looks to be precarious. Without an established pathway to a top level club side, it will be difficult for talented players such as Grenon to develop.
Often used as a lock in age-grade rugby, Grenon probably translated to the senior game as a blindside, making the same move that Marcos Kremer did when he graduated from the U20s. It may be that a move to France is the best way now for Grenon to kick on and reach the levels he’s capable of playing at.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“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
4 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.
7 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 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)
4 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.
6 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.
4 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 comments