Clare Balding's 6ft 9in nephew signs pro contract with Premiership club
Rugby NewsSaturday, 28 June 2025 at 19:28
Gloucester have snapped up one of the most talked‑about teenagers in English rugby, handing towering lock Jonno Balding his first professional contract after a breakout season with the U18s.
Who is Jonno Balding?
| Age | 18 |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) |
| Position | Lock |
| School | Radley College, Oxon |
| England honours | U18 caps |
| Family ties | Nephew of award‑winning broadcaster Clare Balding; son of leading race‑horse trainer Andrew Balding; grandson of Bath great Ian Balding |
The inside line
Pathway to Kingsholm: Joined the Cherry & Whites’ academy in December 2023 and became a mainstay of the U18 side.
International pedigree: Starred for England U18s last term, drawing early whispers of “future Test captain” from age‑grade coaches.
Rugby genes: Grandad Ian turned out 92 times for Bath before training racehorses for the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother.
What they said
George Skivington (Director of Rugby)
“I’ve watched Jonno closely and he’s a massive talent—literally and figuratively. At 6 ft 9 in he’s an athletic line‑out option, but the best bit is how coachable he is. Developing home‑grown players is vital for us; Jonno can go right to the top.”
Jonno Balding
“Signing at Kingsholm is a dream. I know this environment will push me to become the best player I can be. I can’t wait to get started.”
RUCK verdict
Gloucester love a monstrous lock and Balding ticks every box: size, set‑piece nous, and a ridiculous ceiling for growth. Add in that winning Balding DNA—plus an influential aunt in sports‑broadcast royalty—and Kingsholm may have just secured England’s next big thing.
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"Absolute Disaster" - Four Lions players who flopped against Western Force
Here are four Lions who failed to fire, with scores and quotes from the top rugby outlets.
1. Tadhg Beirne –
RUCK 5 | RugbyPass 6 | Express 5
RUCK: “He really struggled up against the Forces’ pace to the game and gave away some silly penalties in and around the breakdown.”
RugbyPass: “Busy in the tight but appeared to be on the wrong side of Ben O’Keeffe’s whistle early on, giving away two breakdown penalties.”
Express: “Needless penalties in first half before being replaced in second.”
Beirne’s move to the back row didn’t pay off. He looked off-rhythm early and conceded costly penalties that gave the Force momentum. Not the kind of calm leadership expected from such an experienced Lion. Discipline will be non-negotiable in the Tests — and Beirne knows it.
2. Pierre Schoeman –
RUCK 5 | Planet Rugby 5 | Telegraph 4
RUCK: “Really struggled under the pressure at the scrum... a passenger struggling with the Forces’ physicality.”
Planet Rugby: “Struggled in the scrums but was busy around the park.”
Telegraph: "The Force put the Lions scrum under serious pressure which leaves his position vulnerable after Ellis Genge’s strong performance last week."
Schoeman found the going tough up front, especially in the first half. He offered his usual work rate in loose play, but the Force repeatedly got the better of him at the scrum — and that pressure filtered through the Lions' entire pack. Didn't show the presence he had against Argentina.
3. Tadhg Furlong –
RUCK 5 | Planet Rugby 5 | Telegraph 4
RUCK: “Struggled in the physicality department… lost the battle at set piece and was on the back foot for the majority of the game.”
Planet Rugby: “Not nearly as dominant in the scrums as he was a week ago… managed to get through a decent amount of defence work.”
Telegraph: "Would have hoped for a more dominant performance against a converted loosehead in Tom Robertson. Got through a lot of tackles and some soft hands in phase play."
Another surprise dip. Furlong, usually a reliable anchor at the set piece, had an unusually shaky night. While his hands and defence were solid, the Lions needed dominance — not damage control — from the veteran tighthead. He’ll be under pressure to bounce back quickly.
4. Scott Cummings –
RUCK 4 | RugbyPass 5.5 | Express 5 | Balls.ie 5
RUCK: “At the forefront of the Lions’ biggest Achilles heel, which was kick-off restarts… maybe played himself out of test contention.”
RugbyPass: “Failed to reclaim the restart… and the second-half kick-off too.”
Balls.ie: “Targeted for restarts and struggled there.”
Express: “Line-out worked but didn’t see much carrying.”
Telegraph: "An absolute disaster at the restarts where he was mercilessly targeted by the Force."
A frustrating night for the Scottish lock. Missed two restarts — one of which directly led to the Force’s only try — and gave away a soft penalty near his own line. Made plenty of tackles, but his aerial work and general impact left a lot to be desired. A golden opportunity missed.
QUIZ: Can you name the 2013 British & Irish Lions squad?
Think you’re a true rugby nut? It's time to put your Lions knowledge to the test.
12 years have passed since Warren Gatland’s men roared to a famous series win over Australia, but how well do you really remember the iconic 2013 British & Irish Lions squad?
From legendary leaders to surprise selections, we’ve lined up every player from that unforgettable tour. All you have to do is name them. No pressure, right?
Take the quiz below and prove your rugby brain still bites.
? Scroll down and get cracking – how many can you get without cheating?
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