1
What’s happened to the ‘next Jason Robinson’ Kyle Eastmond and where to now?
Kyle Eastmond is just 28 years old and is without a club after being released by Wasps at the end of the season. He was once feted as one of England’s bright prospects following his code switch from rugby league in 2011, with anticipation that he could be the ‘next Jason Robinson’, however this hasn’t materialised.
ADVERTISEMENT
He’s not been a failure in the mould of the vastly hyped experiment of Sam Burgess, which blew up spectacularly in England’s face at the 2015 World Cup, but there is a whiff of unfulfilled potential about Eastmond.
He was a goalkicking scrum half in league, who won four England caps. Aged just 20 he scored all of St Helens points in the 2009 Grand Final defeat to Leeds for St. Helens, the talent was there. It took Eastmond two years to earn international honours in union when he made his England debut in 2013 under Stuart Lancaster away against Argentina in Salta. Fellow debutants that day were Billy Vunipola, Matt Kvesic and Christian Wade – only one of those has kicked on and had an international career of note.
5’ 7” Eastmond did pick up six caps, all of which came at centre, the last being in November 2014 when he started at 12 outside Owen Farrell, in a 31-28 defeat to South Africa at Twickenham. Failure to make the 2015 World Cup squad was followed by Eddie Jones’ preference to have George Ford at 10 and move Farrell to 12, Eastmond’s international career was doomed.
Continue reading below…
Video: Nic Groom on the Springboks and England
A move to Wasps in 2016 seemed an ideal match, with Dai Young’s side playing a swashbuckling style of rugby. However injuries took their toll in his two seasons at the Ricoh. He was limited to just 24 appearances with just four tries to show for it. This season was also blighted by a suspension, he was cited for two dangerous tackles during Wasps win over Harlequins at the beginning of February, a match where he received a red card and was subsequently banned until April 17th. He returned to the fold afterwards and was on the bench for their Aviva Premiership semi-final defeat to Saracens.
Kyle Eastmond has been given a six-week suspension after this hit on Marcus Smith. pic.twitter.com/5iUrDiJf0j
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) February 13, 2018
But what’s next for Eastmond, his former club Bath aren’t interested, moving instead for Jamie Roberts from Harlequins, an altogether different player. Toulouse have been linked, they’re on the market for a centre after Gael Fickou joined Top 14 rivals Stade Francais. A return to rugby league has been mooted as a possibility, another of his former clubs, St Helens, have dismissed the suggestion, after what turned out to be an acrimonious departure seven years ago. Leading the chase if he does decide to swap codes again appears to be Warrington Wolves, Eastmond’s union career could be at an end.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’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.
11 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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?
5 Go to comments