London Irish may have been clear winners of the Championship, but the wealth of talent to be found throughout English rugby‘s second tier is evident in this year’s Dream Team.
Voted for by the coaches in the division, the 2018/19 team of the year includes representatives from seven clubs. London Irish and runners-up Ealing Trailfinders account for half-a-dozen of the players selected, while Jersey boast the biggest contingent with four.
Irish’s Bath-bound forward Josh McNally attracted the most votes of any one single player with all bar one of the coaching teams picking him at lock or in the back row. McNally is also the only player in this year’s stellar line-up to have featured previously, having been included in the 2015/16 Dream Team while in the colours of London Welsh.
McNally is joined in the line-up by Exiles’ No.8 Matt Rogerson, who is flanked by Ealing Trailfinders duo Rayn Smid and Jordy Reid, with former Northampton Saint Tom Stephenson getting the nod at outside-centre. Ealing’s third pick is wing James Cordy-Redden.
Since winning promotion to the Championship in 2012, Jersey have earned a reputation for producing quality tight forwards, a number of whom have gone on to play at a higher level following their inclusion in the Dream Team. On this occasion three of their four representatives are backs, including an all-Reds half-back partnership of Will Homer and Brett Herron. Leroy Van Dam gets the nod on the wing, while Jerry Sexton accompanies McNally in the second row.
Relegated Richmond provide a powerful presence with both of their props, Will Goodrick-Clarke and Craig Trenier, earning a place in the front row either side of Cornish Pirates‘ converted back row Sam Matavesi at hooker.
Rarely a year goes by without Bedford Blues having an outside back included and Richard Lane was the standout choice on this occasion. Meanwhile, Yorkshire Carnegie’s Pete Lucock is named at inside-centre, just reward for a player who has been a consistently high performer at this level.
The 2018/19 Championship Dream Team
1 Will Goodrick-Clarke (Richmond)
Always puts in a big shift with a tackle count any back row player would be proud to call his own. Offers plenty at scrum-time and in the loose too. London Irish have snapped him up for next season. Just edged out Sean McCarthy of Bedford.
2 Sam Matavesi (Cornish Pirates)
Having switched to the front row from flanker, Matavesi has thrived both for club and country. Endeared for his
all-action style, Matavesi is often at the forefront of defence and attack and his loan move to Toulouse at the tail-end of the season was well-deserved, as was his return to the Fiji team in November after a five-year absence.
3 Craig Trenier (Richmond)
Destructive scrummager who has caused most opposition packs problems this season. Will remain in the Championship next season after signing for Ealing Trailfinders. Cornish Pirates powerhouse Christian Judge was a close second.
4 Jerry Sexton (Jersey Reds)
Keen student of the game who gives the Reds an edge at lineout time. Stepped up to captain the side at the back end of the season. Will be playing in the PRO14 next season after signing a three-year deal with the Southern Kings.
5 Josh McInally (London Irish)
Set to become the latest in a long line of players to make the move from London Irish to Bath after a stellar season. At 6ft 7ins and more than 19st, McInally offers a real physical presence around the park and has played at lock and in the back row this season. Played in every game bar the final one of the season.
6 Rayn Smid (Ealing Trailfinders)
An ever-present for Ealing this season, scoring 11 tries and captaining the side. A fantastic ball carrier who is strong at the breakdown and hits hard in defence. Has covered all three back row positions and is a real talisman of the team.
7 Jordy Reid (Ealing Trailfinders)
Australian breakdown specialist in the mould of David Pocock and Michael Hooper, Reid was the pick of all but two of the opposition coaching teams for his brilliance at pilfering opposition ball. Aggressive runner who was Ealing players’ player of year.
8 Matt Rogerson (London Irish)
Hit the ground running with a man-of-the-match display against Ealing in the first game of the season and never looked back. The powerful ball-carrier warded off the threat of Janco Venter, his replacement at Jersey, and Yorkshire Carnegie’s Dan Temm, in this most competitive of positions.
9 Will Homer (Jersey)
Has fine-tuned his core kicking and passing skills to become a more rounded nine, not just a running threat. Cornish Pirates’ Alex Day was unlucky to miss out and Lee Dickson got a couple of votes in his swansong season at Bedford.
10 Brett Herron (Jersey)
Summer move to Harlequins is recognition of a fine season in which Herron benefitted from regular rugby. Possesses good evasive skills as well as being an adept distributor and kicker. Rory Jennings (London Scottish) and Stephen Myler of London Irish were also both excellent.
11 James Cordy-Redden (Ealing Trailfinders)
Has an excellent strike record while at Trailfinders and has been no stranger to the try line again this term with 12 tries from 17 starts. Also possesses good aerial skills and carries the ball well. The Championship’s top try-scorer Dean Adamson came close to retaining his place from last season, while London Scottish speedster Rob Stevenson and Cornish Pirates duo, Alex O’Meara and Robin Wedlake, came under consideration.
12 Pete Lucock (Yorkshire Carnegie)
Restored to his preferred position at inside-centre after a spell as a makeshift fly-half, Lucock has been a rock of consistency in Yorkshire Carnegie’s rollercoaster ride of a season with his hard running lines and tough tackling. London Irish’s Terrence Hepetema impressed and might have made the team had he played more than half a season.
13 Tom Stephenson (London Irish)
Before his untimely injury towards the end of the season the former U20 World Cup winner had gone from strength-to-strength in the heart of the London Irish midfield. His balanced partnership with Hepetema earned rave reviews from the Exiles faithful and was as solid in defence as it was potent in attack.
14 Leroy van Dam (Jersey Reds)
Equally comfortable on either wing or at full-back, van Dam has been a superb addition to the Reds’ squad. Works hard with and without the ball and has reaped the rewards.
15 Richard Lane (Bedford Blues)
Can turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye with his searing pace and eye for a gap. Has the ability to bounce back off the ground and back on to his feet in a flash, making him a hard man to stop. Kyle Moyle was the only other contender for the full-back slot.
JON NEWCOMBE / Photo: Getty Images
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