The Next Generation of Rugby: Picking a World U23 XV
The dust has well and truly settled on another year of international rugby, bringing with it plenty of action and drama from around the world.
The past 12 months of test rugby has also seen the emergence of some of rugby’s brightest young prospects, many of whom enjoyed a breakout year on the global stage.
In an attempt to recognise the efforts of rugby’s up-and-coming stars, we have devised a World XV made up of players born no earlier than January 1, 1998 whose exploits in the test arena have impressed in recent times.
Some players have been on the international scene for what seems like some time now, while others have only really caught the imagination of the rugby world as recently as last month.
Nevertheless, here is a XV of some of test rugby’s hottest talents leading into 2022:
1) Rhys Carre (Wales)
Age: 23
Test caps: 16
Club: Cardiff Blues
It’s been more than two years since Rhys Carre made his test debut for Wales, and yet he is still only 23-year-old, making him a baby by prop standards. That should instil Welsh fans with plenty of confidence that Carre holds massive amounts of potential that he is yet to reach as he continues to add to the 16 test caps he already has to his name.
Other potential candidates: Angus Bell (Australia), Ethan de Groot (New Zealand), Bevan Rodd (England), Jean-Baptiste Gros (France), Tomas Gallo (Argentina)
2) Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)
Age: 23
Test caps: 16
Club: Leinster
Since the retirement of former Ireland captain Rory Best following the 2019 World Cup, youngster Ronan Kelleher has risen to the challenge of replacing his predecessor in the No 2 jersey. The Leinster standout has emerged as the leading candidate to fill Best’s void on a long-term basis, as reflected by his call-up to the British and Irish Lions earlier this year and his string of starts during the November test window.
Other potential candidates: Samisoni Taukei’aho (New Zealand)
3) Demba Bamba (France)
Age: 23
Test caps: 20
Club: Lyon
Three years on from his test debut as a mere 20-year-old, Demba Bamba has established himself as a regular in the France national squad. The Lyon prop already has 20 test caps to his name and, after having played at the 2019 World Cup for Les Bleus, was a regular starter for a second-string France side against the Wallabies in their mid-year tour of Australia.
4) Cameron Woki (France)
Age: 23
Test caps: 11
Club: Bordeaux
A teammate of Bamba’s in the world champion France U20 side of 2018, Cameron Woki exploded onto the international scene in recent months with a series of impressive displays. The utility forward was arguably France’s best player on their tour of Australia and was in equally fine form when Les Bleus condemned the All Blacks to a second consecutive defeat last month.
Other potential candidates: Ryan Baird (Ireland), Christ Tshiunza (Wales)
5) Tupou Vaa’i (New Zealand)
Age: 21
Test caps: 11
Club: Chiefs
The first All Black to have been born in the new millennium, Tupou Vaa’i has caught the eye in the few chances he has received in test rugby as he continues to battle for playing time behind the likes of Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett. New Zealand will be left in good hands when those more senior figures eventually give the game away, though, as Vaa’i’s work ethic and attention to detail makes him a fine prospect in the years to come.
Other potential candidates: Ben Carter (Wales), Josh Lord (New Zealand)
6) Rob Valetini (Australia)
Age: 23
Test caps: 18
Club: Brumbies
In a year when the Wallabies fluctuated drastically in terms of on-field performances, Rob Valetini emerged as one of Australia’s biggest movers with a consistent campaign where he made his presence known in the green-and-gold No 6 jersey. Valetini’s year certainly didn’t end how he would have liked, with a controversial red card against Wales earning him a two-match ban, but the foundations are certainly in place for the 23-year-old to help drive the Wallabies to further success next year.
Other potential candidates: Fraser McReight (Australia)
7) Tom Curry (England)
Age: 23
Test caps: 39
Club: Sale Sharks
He has long been touted as one of the world’s most exciting youngsters, but Tom Curry has left no doubt in the minds of rugby fans across the globe of what he is capable of on the international scene. By far the most-capped player in this composite side, Curry asserted himself as one of the game’s best flankers at the 2019 World Cup as he worked in tandem with Sam Underhill to stun the All Blacks and guide England to a runner-up finish in Japan. Selection in this year’s British and Irish Lions squad was always going to be a certainty, and he is now closing in on half-a-century of test caps before his 25th birthday.
Other potential candidates: Taine Basham (Wales), Michele Lamaro (Italy), Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina)
8) Caelan Doris (Ireland)
Age: 23
Test caps: 12
Club: Leinster
It speaks volumes of Caelan Doris’ ability and potential that he was voted Autumn Nations Series Player of the Series by the public after helping guide Ireland to a November sweep of Japan, the All Blacks and Los Pumas. The 23-year-old loose forward’s performances in those fixtures put him in the conscience of rugby fans worldwide as it became apparent that Ireland seem to have a gem on their hands in the back row.
Other potential candidates: Hoskins Sotutu (New Zealand), Harry Wilson (Australia)
The five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises have unveiled their playing jerseys for the inaugural edition of Super Rugby Pacific in 2022. #SuperRugbyPacific https://t.co/ABPwdsgYfU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 5, 2021
9) Tate McDermott (Australia)
Age: 23
Test caps: 15
Club: Queensland Reds
He may have fallen back behind Nic White in Australia’s national pecking order despite some impressive performances this year, but Tate McDermott has all the makings to become one of rugby’s top halfbacks. His running game, in particular, was especially dangerous, and it earned him starts against France, the All Blacks and the Springboks earlier this year. Let’s hope we see more of that in 2022.
Other potential candidates: Raffi Quirke (England)
10) Marcus Smith (England)
Age: 22
Test caps: 5
Club: Harlequins
Like his countryman Curry, young playmaker Marcus Smith has long been heralded as one rugby’s elite youth players for quite some time. That status has earned him more than a century of appearances for Harlequins since his debut as a teenager in 2017, but it wasn’t until this year that his sky-high potential began to bear fruit as he was finally handed a test debut in July after having guided his club side to an unlikely Premiership title. That was the beginning of Smith’s rapid rise this year, as he was soon called into the British and Irish Lions squad and then started at No 10 in all three of his country’s November tests, all of which was enough to win him a nomination for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Other potential candidates: Mathieu Jalibert (France), Paolo Garbisi (Italy), Noah Lolesio (Australia)
11) Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
Age: 20
Test caps: 12
Club: Gloucester
Competing with Smith for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year is Welsh prodigy Louis Rees-Zammit, who burst onto the scene with an array of standout displays for Gloucester as the club’s youngest-ever Premiership player. That, unsurprisingly, earned him a test debut for Wales last year, and the 20-year-old speedster has gone from strength-to-strength since then, having played for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa and rivalling Smith as the planet’s best youngster.
Other potential candidates: Caleb Clarke (New Zealand)
12) Romain Ntamack (France)
Age: 22
Test caps: 23
Club: Toulouse
Plenty has been made of France’s resurgence since the 2019 World Cup, and much of that has to do with Romain Ntamack, the 2019 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year who has formed a world-class halves partnership with Antoine Dupont. At the crux of France’s newfound success is their youthful core, with Ntamack and Dupont spearheading that contingent at both club and international level. A masterful first-five who can also play at No 12, Ntamack’s counter-attacking brilliance from inside his own in-goal against the All Blacks in Paris showed everyone a glimpse of what he can do with ball in hand.
Other potential candidates: Cameron Redpath (Scotland), Quinn Tupaea (New Zealand), Hunter Paisami (Australia)
13) Len Ikitau (Australia)
Age: 23
Test caps: 13
Club: Brumbies
After having made his test debut this year, Len Ikitau proved himself to be so good that he played in every test for the Wallabies in 2021. Of those 13 matches, he started in 11 of them, but he thrived the most when paired up with Samu Kerevi in the midfield as part of a backline steered by Quade Cooper. When at full tilt, Ikitau’s ball-playing and line-running were lethal attributes that helped the Wallabies reach their best during the Rugby Championship.
Other potential candidates: Jordan Petaia (Australia)
14) Will Jordan (New Zealand)
Age: 23
Test caps: 13
Club: Crusaders
A former star for the world champion New Zealand U20 side of 2017, Will Jordan has continued his attacking output in test rugby, scoring a whopping 17 tries in his first 13 tests. 15 of those came in this year alone, an effort no All Black has achieved since Joe Rokocoko scored 17 tries in 2003. It’s that kind of try-scoring prowess and attacking magic that has earned Jordan a World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year nomination alongside Smith and Rees-Zammit.
Other potential candidates: Santiago Carreras (Argentina), Aphelele Fassi (South Africa)
15) Damian Willemse (South Africa)
Age: 23
Test caps: 15
Club: Stormers
He may have found test starts difficult to come by due to the presence of Willie le Roux and Francois Steyn in the Springboks squad, but it’s hard not to imagine that Damian Willemse will grow into one of the world’s top fullbacks in the coming years. A World Cup winner at the age of 21, his experience and immense attacking qualities put him in good stead to prosper over the coming years.
Other potential candidates: Freddie Steward (England), Melvyn Jaminet (France)
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments