Brendan Gallagher gets the inside track on how England’s academies are producing players to progress on the international pathway

Until this June, England – despite its vast player resources – had never won the IRB U20 World Championship or indeed its predecessor the IRB U21 World Cup and there were one or two critical voices as to the efficiency of England’s academies and the conveyor belt of talent they were meant to produce.
A thoroughly professional and clinical second half by Jack Clifford’s team this year in the final against Wales at Vannes finally brought England a 23-15 win and the success they have been striving for although their signature performance from the tournament was a 33-21 semi-final win over New Zealand. Rarely have the Baby Blacks been so outclassed and out-thought. England looked world beaters in France but now comes that crunch transitional year, often the making and breaking of a young hopeful.
How many of the class of 2013 will actually go on to be capped by England at senior level and play in a senior World Cup? Could one or two even be fast-tracked to RWC2015? Is it time to start getting really excited and positive or is now the time for caution?
Sometimes it can all happen very quickly. Two years ago England lost to New Zealand in the U20 World Cup yet from the team three Lions tourists have already emerged – Mako Vunipola, Owen Farrell and Christian Wade – while Joe Launchbury, Marland Yarde and Matt Kvesic have all been capped by England at senior level and Elliot Daly might not be far behind. Can we expect the same from the only England age-group team ever to win a global competition.
“I would say that 2011 yielding an exceptional crop was in many ways not the norm,” says Mark Mapletoft who took England to two U20 finals and a semi-final during his time in charge before becoming Harlequins backs coach. “The bigger picture is that it is completely unrealistic to expect more than three or four from any year group to play regular Test rugby in their careers.
“If the opposite were true you would have an England team with an average age of 25 or younger in a constant state of flux. You would have no older players, yet we know that isn’t the case. The fact is that every so often you get ‘players of their generation’ who will win 80-90 caps and everybody else in their position, no matter how good, has the devil of a job to get a look in.
“During my time with England I worked with some excellent players who have made good progress – Alex Corbisiero, Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes, Danny Care, Alex Goode, Joe Simpson, Jordan Turner-Hall to name a few – but of that group only really ‘Corbs’ is an absolute nailed down England starter at present when fully fit.

“It’s an absolute joke to say the England academy system is rubbish which is what I hear occasionally. For example if you are a young loosehead in England at present you have got to get past recent U20 graduates Corbisiero, Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola to get recognised! Since the U20 age group got going six years ago England have reached four World Cup finals, won four Six Nations Championships with three Grand Slams along the way.
“That’s a pretty high level of achievement and consistency considering you basically start afresh every season, a record second only to New Zealand. It is also a complete fallacy, by the way, that New Zealand rush their top junior players into the All Blacks team. Their transition rate over the last five or six years is very comparable to England.
“Bringing through top junior players is not a finite science. We’ve had a good success rate at Harlequins but we also let Joe Launchbury go to Wasps! You can be unlucky and have top international players in your position or you might not be so highly rated by your club coach as the England selectors. The style of play at your club might not suit you, either, and some players just mature differently, they kick on in their early 20s rather than late teens. Far and away the biggest variable, though, is serious injury. A season out aged 20 with a big injury can have a huge influence on your development and confidence.
Mapletoft’s former England senior and U21 playing colleague Tony Diprose is now the Quins’ academy manager as well as the club’s defence coach. They keep an eagle eye on all Quins’ youngsters and put a huge amount of thought into their development during the first season when they move from junior to senior rugby. They know just how important the next 12-18 months are.
“It’s a fine balancing act,” admits Diprose. “The club is very anxious to give the young players the opportunity to see where they are but it’s a professional game and somehow you have to prove yourself better than the players ahead of you.
“With our two from this year’s World Cup-winning team – Harry Sloan and Jack Clifford – we recognise them as great talents with the rugby world at their feet and we’ll be looking to give them the right environment to grow and learn. They must transfer their outstanding age-group performance to senior level.
“We will be giving them a portfolio of games at all levels. Both are training with our senior squad but both are also registered with Ealing who are newly promoted to the Championship. The Championship is extremely physical and competitive – up at Leicester both Tom Youngs and Dan Cole benefitted starting for Bedford before Tigers recalled them. We have excellent relationships with Ealing and London Scottish in that respect for a number of our youngsters.
“Then we have a minimum of five A-league games, perhaps a few more if we progress, which is another avenue. We would like a full A-team programme if I’m honest because you want to get your emerging guys playing the club’s style but with salary caps in force it’s difficult for some to run a competitive A-team all season. A-team matches are different again – they tend to be very fast and skilful but not as physical as Championship and Premiership matches.
“We also give our younger players their head in the LV= Cup and there’s a decent chance, especially with injuries, of Premiership and occasional European game.
“On top of all that of course there is the opportunity of training with some pretty exceptional players in their positions. Jack’s back row colleagues at Quins include Nick Easter, Chris Robshaw, Tom Guest, Maurie Fa’asavalu and Luke Wallace. That’s a very diverse talented group and Jack needs to pick those brains constantly. At his age you have a licence to do just that.”
15 JACK NOWELL (Exeter Chiefs): Has already made a big impression with Exeter’s Premiership side, mainly on the wing, but faces a battle to get a regular start either at full-back or out wide. Up against Wales and Tonga Test wings Tom James and Fetu’u Vainikolo while Luke Arscott, Phil Dolman, Matt Jess and Jack Arnott will also contest the issue.
RWC2015 Potential: Outside bet despite England’s riches out wide.
14 ANTHONY WATSON (Bath Rugby): Has been described by some as the most exciting young back in England and Bath’s expansive style of rugby should suit. Can play full-back but primarily a wing where he will be up against Horacio Agulla, Tom Biggs and Semesa Rokoduguni. Will be a surprise if he hasn’t made a big impression by the end of the season.
RWC2015 Potential: Fair. Has plenty of X-factor
13 HARRY SLOAN (Harlequins): A year young at the U20 World Cup but a mature performer. Quins are well blessed in midfield with Tom Casson, Matt Hopper, George Lowe and Jordan Turner-Hall so Sloan might need to be patient. Dual registered with Ealing but it’s a long season and if injuries strike Sloan will be ready and waiting.
RWC2015 potential: Too soon
12 SAM HILL (Exeter Chiefs): Hill is likely to have more seasons dual-registered with Cornish Pirates but will be training with Exeter’s Premiership squad and could be required alongside their blockbusting Fijian centre Sireli Naqelevuki. Ian Whitten and New Zealander Jason Shoemark will also contest the midfield starting roles.
RWC2015 potential: Too soon
11 BEN HOWARD (Worcester Warriors): Technically still a member of Worcester’s academy but with five tries in nine senior appear-ances last season the rangy Howard looks set to make a big impact when called upon by coach Dean Ryan.
RWC2015 potential: Too soon, England well blessed with outstanding youngish players out wide.
10 HENRY SLADE (Exeter Chiefs): Superb goal kicker throughout England’s World Cup campaign and cool link at ten. Very much a member of Exeter’s Premiership squad this season although points machine Gareth Steenson remains and former Wales No.10 Ceri Sweeney is a new arrival.
RWC2015 potential: Slim but Slade is a seriously good goal-kicker and his time will come
9 ALEX DAY (Northampton Saints): Very influential with England U20, a real leader at the Junior World Championship but realistically will struggle for starts at Saints with Lee Dickson and Khan Fotuali’i such vital cogs in the wheel at Franklin’s Gardens this season.
RWC2015 potential: England are well covered at scrum-half but could 2019 beckon?
1 ALEC HEPBURN (London Wasps): You don’t normally expect looseheads to hit the big time aged 20 but Hepburn is class and will certainly be required for regular bench duties, and more, at Adams Park.
RWC2015 potential: Too soon, a star of the future but will benefit first from a few years at the Premiership coalface
2 LUKE COWAN-DICKIE (Exeter Chiefs): Looks a potential world beater and already has first team starts for Exeter under his belt. The complete package it should be a proper breakthrough season for the dynamic Cowan-Dickie although Greg Bateman and Chris Whitehead will push him all the way.
RWC2015 potential: Strong, barring injury this is multi-cap England hooker of the future.
3 SCOTT WILSON (Newcastle Falcons): No superstars in the Newcastle front row, although France’s Franck Montanella and Puma Nahuel Lobo are not to messed with, so Wilson has every chance of getting decent game time and continuing the essential learning process.
RWC2015 potential: Too early and England currently have huge strength at prop.
4 TOM PRICE (Leicester Tigers): Leicester have an enviable record at bringing along their young talent and they have such strength in depth that Price won’t be rushed in until he is absolutely ready. When the moment comes to blood him in earnest you can rest assured he will be real deal.
RWC2015 potential: Too early, work in progress
5 DOMINIC BARROW (Leeds Carnegie): Was getting all the first-team rugby he wanted at Leeds Carnegie and now moves to Newcastle Falcons where veterans Scott MacLeod and Carlo de Fava probably start ahead of him in the pecking order. Can expect plenty of Premiership game time, though.
RWC2015 potential: Needs to do the hard yards for a few years yet.
6 ROSS MORIARTY (Gloucester): Will make a delayed start following shoulder surgery, this muscular blindside could need a season to adapt at senior level. Recently signed a two-year contract with Gloucester who rate him highly and opportunities will arise.
RWC2015 potential: Should be challenging by Japan in 2019
7 MATT HANKIN (Saracens): Very physical and classy presence in the England U20 backrow, linked perfectly with Jack Clifford, and looks eminently capable of making the transition almost immediately despite Sarries backrow strength.
RWC2015 potential: Outside bet although 2019 more likely.
8 JACK CLIFFORD (Harlequins, capt): Unlucky not to be nominated as player of the World Championship, Clifford would be an automatic first choice at some Premiership clubs and has been earmarked as Nick Easter’s long-term successor at No.8 at Quins. Might start the season terrorising Championship rivals for Ealing.
RWC2015 potential: Strong, a major talent about to arrive.