'I was the quickest in the Prem... at my state school I wasn't even the quickest in my year'
Ugo Monye recalls how he was not even the fastest in his school year as he highlights the “untapped talent” available to rugby in state education.
Monye was 13-years-old when he secured a sports scholarship from Churchmead to Lord Wandsworth College where he was exposed to the game for the first time having previously dreamed of playing for Arsenal or becoming an elite-level athlete.
He went on to forge a successful career that included England and Lions selection, but as an early teenager even the former Harlequins wing was left trailing by rivals.
Eddie Jones ignited a heated debate last week when he stated that English rugby is suffering because of its reliance on a private school system that produces players who lack leadership, resolve and skill.
For Monye the focus should be on expanding the sport’s presence in state education knowing from first hand experience the potential available there.
“We have a well trodden production line from private school to academy to playing for England, but we’re talking about seven per cent of the population. There’s 93 per cent that is fairly untapped,” Monye told the PA news agency in support of the Bioglan Balance campaign.
“I went to state school and then at the age of 13 went to a private school where I got exposed to rugby.
“When I played on the world sevens circuit, I was the quickest. I reckon that at my best I was the quickest in the Premiership and I’d have been one of the quickest on the international circuit. But at my state school I wasn’t even the quickest in my year.
“In athletics, if I was getting into the final of a district trials I was doing well. There is an unbelievable untapped market out there who just don’t have the opportunity.
“Lots is being done and there are some great initiatives that connect clubs with local schools, but if you could invest time into other schools that are not on the radar, they would find untapped talent which would only be good for our game.
“None of this is a slight on the public school sector because it has served the country so well and produced some incredible rugby players and ambassadors for our country.
“I’m a product of it and I wouldn’t played rugby had I not gone to private school. But I do think the state school sector could provide as many, if not more, if the opportunities were there. How we provide those opportunities is the million dollar question.”
Monye, who sits on the Rugby Football Union’s independent diversity advisory group, believes the sport needs outside assistance if it is to broaden its appeal.
“This is bigger than rugby or the RFU, it’s a Government thing. After England got to the (men’s) Euros final, Boris Johnson pledged £50million into football and said he didn’t want any kid to be more than 15 minutes away from a football pitch,” Monye said.
“That amount of money would sort out rugby, netball, badminton, hockey. The disparity between the national sport will always be there if it’s getting the majority of the funding and we’re just picking up the scraps.
“It needs to be supported by the Government because state schools just don’t have the facilities or the coaches.”
:: Former Rugby Player Ugo Monye has partnered with supplement brand Bioglan for their first series ‘In Bioglan Balance’ alongside influencer Mat Carter to show how he finds balance in his busy life. To watch the series, visit @bioglansupplements on Instagram”
Comments on RugbyPass
Blues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
2 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
15 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
2 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
15 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
15 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
47 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
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