The best young players in world rugby: Marcus Smith, Marcos Kremer, Rieko Ioane... who are the superstars of the future?
Rugby NewsMonday, 20 November 2017 at 19:58
Who are the best young players in the world, the superstars of the future (or even the present)?
In no particular order...
1. Marcus Smith (England): Fly-half
Born in the Philippines to a British father and a Filipina mother, Smith picked up the game of rugby union at the age of seven with Centaurs RFC when his family moved to Singapore.
Smith is the second youngest debutant featured in the Aviva Premiership at 18 years and 200 days old whose record is behind George Ford.
He's currently serving as an apprentice to the England senior squad, seemingly setting the number 10 up for stardom.
2. Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)
This product of the Argentina youth system, Boffelli represented his country at U18, U19 and U20 level before a knee injury threatened to sideline him indefinitely.
But he came back stronger and quicker than ever and made his full international debut for the Pumas this year. Capable of playing all positions in the backline, the gifted footballer has settled down very well on the wing for the Argentinian national side.
Good on the air, solid on defence and capable of nailing long distances goal kicks, the 22-year-old is a great asset for the Pumas and has a bright future ahead of him.
3. Rieko Ioane (New Zealand): Winger
The winger marked his New Zealand debut last November with a try against Italy, but it is in 2017 that he has truly made his mark on the test arena with eight tries in as many starts.
The 20-year-old scored twice in his first start against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park and claimed another double in his first Bledisloe Cup match in August.
With pace and strength to burn, Ioane finished the Rugby Championship as joint-top try-scorer with five after beating the most defenders, making the most clean breaks and metres in the competition.
4. Damian Penaud (France): Centre
The son of former France international Alain, the 21-year-old has long been talked of as a player to watch and his impressive performances for Clermont and France U20s since 2015 earned him his test debut against South Africa in June.
The centre immediately repaid Guy Noves’ faith in him with a try in that 37-15 defeat in Durban, as he showcased his pace, impressive step, vision to spot a gap and confidence to back himself at the very highest level.
5. Asafo Aumua (New Zealand): Hooker
In the area of most ‘weakness’, or rather least strength in New Zealand rugby, Aumua is emerging as a potential Mealamu/Coles hybrid.
A hooker with bags of potential, he does the little things right – he can scrummage and his lineouts are tidy – but it’s in the loose where he separates himself.
Aumua had two standout 30-50 metre runs to set up tries during the U20 championship against Ireland and France, and we will be seeing him in Super Rugby sooner rather than later. He was simply unplayable in the final too.
6. Juarno Augustus (South Africa): Number 8
The No 8 played every minute for his team during the U20 championships, making 108 running metres from 47 carries and two clean breaks. His breakdown work is incredible too.
He beat 10 defenders and made 51 tackles with an 88% completion rate, while managing to score a try in every match (two against France and one each against Argentina and Georgia in the pool stage; two against England in the semi-final, and another against France in the third-place playoff).
He saw off stiff competition from England’s Zach Mercer and Gabriel Ibitoye, and New Zealand’s Tiaan Falcon and Will Jordan, to become the third South African – behind Handré Pollard and Jan Serfontein – to win the World Rugby U20 Player of the Year award.
Augustus appears destined to play for the Springboks
7. Anthony Belleau (France): Fly-half
The 21-year-old made an impressive debut for France against the All Blacks and has now racked up 18 points in two Test appearances. The Toulon playmaker looks like he belongs at this level and will be a player to watch heading into the 2018 Six Nations.
8. Joey Carbery (Ireland): Fly-half
Joey Carbery started 2016 playing for Clontarf and finished it with three caps, the first coming against New Zealand in Chicago when he replaced Jonny Sexton with 22 minutes to go and coolly guided his forwards around the field to help Ireland achieve a historic victory over the All Blacks.
He's now accumulated, aged 22, doubled his cap total to six but more importantly has established himself in the Leinster team. Definetly one of the most exciting prospects in the world rugby.
9. Zach Mercer (England): Flanker
What can you say about the charismatic 20-year-old that’s not already said? Yes, there are the flash things- like the amazing offloads and tries. But there is more to Mercer’s game than that.
Many people’s U20 player of the tournament, Mercer is one of the most exciting English prospects in a long time and is now serving as an apprentice with Eddie Jones squad during the Autumn Internationals.
10. Vasil Lobzhanidze (Georgia): Scrum-half
The scrum-half has played 25 Tests already and became the youngest player to feature in a senior World Cup campaign which saw the Lelos win two matches for the first time.
Nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year 2015 accolade, the 21-year-old now gets the chance to lead his country into new territory.
11. Sione Tuipulotu (Australia)
Born and raised in Frankston, Victoria, the winger played for Melbourne Rising in the 2015 NRC. A product of Southern Districts Rugby Club, he also represented Australia Schoolboys in 2014.
He then represented the Wallabies during the World Rugby U20s Championships earlier this year, showing why he is one of their most exciting talents.
12. Marcos Kremer (Argentina): Lock
It's not hard to see why Argentina fans love Kremer. Still just 20, the 1.96m, 115kg lock has the frame to impose himself against any opposition, even at Test level.
He won his first three caps for the pumas off the bench during last year's Rugby Championship and has since taken his total to 11 caps, scoring one try.
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