Five Young Rugby Players Set to Make an Impact in 2017

With attendances at rugby union matches growing off the field as reported by Premiership Rugby at the start of the season, along with sakes of associated merchandise, fans of rugby should have a pretty exciting 2017 to look forward to on the pitch as well, as a number of standout players are poised to make quite the impact. If you’re curious to know who is set to make an impact this year, you’ll want to read on.
Keelan Giles
Turning 19 years old at the end of this month, Giles is one player you’ll definitely want to keep your eyes on. Thanks to his amazing acceleration speed and incredibly fast footwork he has often been compared to rugby star Shane Williams. While it’s unsure of when he will be starting, he is currently one of the most highly anticipated players in Wales.
Christian Scotland-Williamson
Scotland-Williamson is a couple of years older than some of the other young players as he is currently 23, but that isn’t stopping him from having a massive impact all his own. The first thing that is noticeable as he steps onto the field for Worcester is his size. Scotland-Williamson measures in at a very intimidating 6ft 9in and plays second-row. Unfortunately, he was plagued with a few injuries, which slowed down his debut, but he seems to be well on his way now.
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Milner-Skudder comes in as the oldest player on the list of players set to make an impact, as he is currently 26 years of age. It could just be that this is his year though, as this fullback/wing showed off just how much talent he had back in 2016. In the span of one year he moved from Manawatu, on to the Canes, and then the All Blacks so he was able to play for the World Cup Squad. He was also deemed the breakout player of the 2016 season.
His strengths include ball playing, strength, and the ability to change directions quickly. Now, he was off with a shoulder injury that required surgery, but it is being said that this won’t slow him down in the least come the 2017 season. Instead he’s all about showing why he won the title of breakout star.
Joey Carbery
Playing for Leinster, Carbery is another young player worth watching. He played a key role in the victory Ireland (Clontarf) had with the All Blacks. His position is fly-half and he has already shown he excels in attacking and is able to stand flat. Expect to see this 21 year-old continue to assert himself and show off his many skills and techniques.
Maro Itoje
There’s a good chance you’ve already heard of this 22 year old who is already being rumoured to have captain potential. The second-rower for the English team first hit the scene last year at the World Rugby breakthrough, but then ended the year in November with a broken hand. He should be back in full form this year showing off all his incredible skills. He plays in the lock position. To add even more buzz to this player, he was given the title of the World Rugby Breakthrough and European Player for the year in 2016, and many are saying he should become England captain.
Just a Sneak Peek of What’s to Come
This is just a small handful of the rugby players to keep your eyes on for 2017, as it is already shaping up to be a competitive and exciting year where the sport is concerned. There are sure to be other players that make waves too as the new year gets underway. It seems as though young players will have a healthy showing though. Of course, this not only makes the game more exciting but also creates the perfect atmosphere for those who love sports bets to consider having a look at the best rugby betting sites in the UK as the year appears to come intense.