Young Gun: Hayden Thompson-Stringer – Saracens back-row/lock

Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 19, a late addition to the JWC, admits he is one of England‘s lesser-known prospects.
However, the rapid trajectory of fellow Saracens back rower Billy Vunipola has re-assured him there is no need to panic.
Thompson-Stringer is spoilt for choice when it comes to mentors. Capable of playing across the back row and in the second row,  he has Vunipola, Jacques Burger, Kelly Brown, Mouritz Botha, Alistair Hargreaves always on hand to help.
But, for the former Oaklands College pupil, England’s No.8 offers a pretty clear example of where things are heading.
“You see how far Billy has come in that short period. It just shows you how much potentially you can actually grow in a year,” said Thompson-Stringer. “I love the way he plays – it’s similar to me. He loves to carry, he loves to run over people and that is just me as well.
“There are a lot of people at the club you look up to, like Jacques Burger, so it is not far away if you ever need to ask questions – and Billy has also given me motivation to keep pushing on.
“All of the lads will approach you if they think you could change something. You get so much from asking people how to do things rather than just trying to do it yourself and being at Saracens you can really talk to anyone. It is one of the best environments to be in.”
Thompson-Stringer’s inclusion in the England U20 squad this month is the latest boost in an exciting few weeks.
Despite making just one LV= Cup appearance for Sarries, he was thrown into the deep end against Leicester last month for a Premiership debut.
“It wasn’t expected,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to play, but through injuries and stuff like that I did. It was really good and the experience from that 15 minutes was amazing.
“To get time against a Leicester first team at 19 – what an experience. They are one of the best teams in the league and there are not many other teams like that.
“I only played the one LV= game so to know I was going to get a Premiership debut was a big thing for me. It helped me a lot and it has given me another drive to push on and get noticed on this tour.”
This tour is very much the next step for the teenager, who watched on as England U20s lifted the JWC title last year. Within 12 months of that triumph Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson and Luke Cowan-Dickie have all made the step up to the top table.
And if Thompson-Stringer can use the summer as a platform for a bit of publicity, he believes drive and determination can do the rest.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. “We have come off the back of a really good Six Nations and we know we have got the potential. We know we have got the team to do what they did last year.
“There is a lot to learn from every game you play, especially out here. You are playing with some of the best people in your position in the world at your age group.
“It is a good marker for me to show what I am about and prove I can be a serious contender.
“I am not a player who is very well-known at the moment – I am a player who has come out of nowhere. This tournament is really going to help get me out there a bit.”
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on June 8.