One academy player EVERY Gallagher Premiership team wishes they still had
Rugby NewsWednesday, 12 August 2020 at 20:37
How much better would your team be if they got back their hottest youth prospect? Steve Smith takes a look at how different the Premiership might look...
In an ever-demanding league where results remain king, there’s still pressure on top-flight clubs to bring through their own young talent. It doesn’t always work out – sometimes youngsters have to move on to truly establish themselves in starting roles elsewhere – but the rewards are particularly fruitful when things do go to plan...
So which former prospects would current Premiership clubs now take back if they could? (For these purposes, any player training with a club by the age of 17 counts as an ex-academy option.
Bath Rugby (Alex Goode)
All-rounder Goode appeared at the national schools athletics finals, played county tennis and was part of the Ipswich Town football academy before joining Saracens. He also had a stint at Bath as a youngster.
Bristol Bears (Ellis Genge)
The Bears have tried to bring Genge home on a number of occasions, but he's instead commited himself to Leicester Tigers.
A ball-carrying No8 through age-group rugby, Genge was converted to loosehead prop and joined Tigers on loan from hometown club Bristol in the final months of the 2015/16 season before making the move permanent.
He quickly made a big impression, starting the final league game of 2015/16 at Bath and then playing in the Premiership semi-final at Saracens before being called into the senior England squad alongside club colleagues Dan Cole and Ben Youngs.
His Test debut came in a win against Wales at Twickenham and he's since accumulated 16 caps, scoring two tries.
Exeter Chiefs: Ed Holmes
The Chiefs have done better than most at hanging onto their best young talent with Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie among others committing themselves.
One quality operator who got away was Holmes, who signed for Bristol after helping the Bears to promotion in 2018. The second-row has since became a pillar of Pat Lam's impressive pack at Ashton Gate.
Gloucester (Sam Underhill)
At the age of just 17, Underhill made his debut for the Cherry & Whites in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, before making his Premiership debut at the age of 18.
Despite being one of the most exciting talents in the Northern Hemisphere, he left to join Ospreys. Underhill then arrived at Bath Rugby for the 2017/18 season, after two seasons with Pro 12 outfit.
The back-rower has gone from strength-to-strength for the Blue, Black and White and played a pivotal role for England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the Six Nations and Quilter Autumn internationals during the 2018/19 season.
Harlequins (Joe Launchbury)
He played for Horsham and also represented Barns Green before joining the Harlequins Academy age 15 After Harlequins failed to offer him a professional contract aged 18, he left the club and joined then National League 2 South side Worthing for the 2009–10 season.
His performances at Worthing under Will Green, then head coach and former Wasps player, saw him recommended to his former club once again. He played in several A League matches for Wasps and, after a spell training with the Eastern Province Kings in South Africa, did enough to be given a full-time contract from July 2010.
He's since gone on to captain Wasps and become a key player for England, winning well over 50 caps.
Leicester Tigers (Harry Thacker)
A skillful dynamo of a hooker, Thacker was added to Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears squad from Leicester Tigers for the 2018/19 season.
In an impressive debut season that included a hat-trick versus Wasps and a scintillating brace versus Tigers, Thacker was listed in the Guardian team of the year.
London Irish (Anthony Watson)
Watson joined Bath Rugby in the summer of 2013 from London Irish and quickly made an impact at the Club.
The 2013 Junior World Championship winner is a naturally athlete, equally at home at wing or fullback. Watson’s exceptional footwork and nose for the try-line has led him to 24 tries in 97 appearances for Bath, with countless more assists to his name.
In 2017 he featured for the British and Irish Lions on their tour of New Zealand.
Watson signed a new contract with the Club in November of 2018 alongside making his 100th appearance for the Club against Leicester in the final fixture of the season.
Northampton Saints (Ethan Waller)
The prop moved to Worcester Warriors in the summer of 2017. He's since became one of the Premiership's finest scrummagers and has been linked with an international call-up with Eddie Jones reportedly a fan.
Sale Sharks (Will Addison)
Saracens (Piers Francis)
He was a member of the Saracens Academy for three years during his teens. He then moved to New Zealand at the age of 18. Francis then returned to the UK to play for Edinburgh and Doncaster Knights before returning to the Southern Hemisphere. He's since returned to England with Northampton Saints and has also won four caps for his country since making his debut against Argentina in 2017.
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 17: Piers Francis of the Blues catches the ball during the round four Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Blues at AMI Stadium on March 17, 2017 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Wasps (Billy Vunipola)
While at Harrow School, Billy joined the Wasps Academy. He made his senior team debut in 2011–12 season and played 30 matches over two seasons before leaving at the end of the 2012–2013 season for Saracens.
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