TRANSFER | England lose exciting prospect to Australia

The 17-year-old, currently at English club Harlequins, will join the Reds after next year’s Super Rugby AU competition with the view to pulling on the gold jersey in the future..

“Like his father, Tom is a very astute five-eighth (flyhalf), but he has certainly created his own path,” Reds general manager of professional rugby Sam Cordingley said in a statement.

“Tom has genuine X-factor with ball in hand, which is supported by his point of difference in speed and acceleration.

“His kicking game is also impressive both out of hand and at goal.

“We are really pleased that he has committed to the Reds and Australian rugby.”

Meanwhile, his older brother Louis, who made his Premiership debut for Harlequins earlier this year, is set to stay in England with a move to Leicester Tigers on the cards.

Internationally, the 19-year-old is yet to declare his allegiance, but has represented England at age-grade, captaining England U16. and playing for the U18’s and U19’s.

Redpath, who is the son of former Sale and 60-cap Scotland scrum-half Bryan Redpath, recently joined Bath after the black, blue and whites paid a six-figure sum to release the 20-year-old from his existing deal with Sale Sharks.

The versatile 20-year-old is an age-group international who trained with England during the 2020 Six Nations in the build-up to their victory over Ireland. He is comfortable at centre, fly-half and full-back.

Michael Lynagh, the great fly half who guided Australia past England to its maiden Rugby World Cup triumph in 1991, has a very talented son, who is currently on the books of Harlequins.

The 18-year-old son of Wallabies legend Michael is yet to declare his allegiance, but has represented England at age-grade, captaining England U16.

He has since then worn the red rose for the Under 18 and Under 19 national sides but because of world rugby’s eligibility laws, the door hasn’t closed on representing Australia until he plays U20 or senior level for England.

With his dad Mike and uncle Tana playing at international level, it was inevitable that Jacob Umaga would take up rugby and do well in his own right. Centre Mike Umaga won 13 caps for Samoa and Tana, a centre/wing, played 74 times for New Zealand and captained the All Blacks.

In June 2016, Jacob moved to the Wasps Academy and two months later scored a thrilling long-range try for England U18 against France in Cape Town. His U20 debut was in the 59-17 win over France at Exeter and he landed all his five place-kicks against Wales six days later along the way to England'ss 37-21 victory at Colwyn and he made four appearances in the World U20 Championship in Georgia in June 2017.

Halifax-born he attended Northowram Primary in the Yorkshire town before going to St John's Primary and Kenilworth Secondary School. Jacob played at Halifax-based Old Brodleians from the age of four (2002/04) and Kenilworth (2004/14). He captained sides at Kenilworth from U9-U16 and won representative honours with the England mixed U18 touch rugby team. In 2020 he received his first senior call-up for the Guinness Six Nations.

Vunipola comes from vintage rugby stock and is already well on his way to following in the footsteps of cousins Billy and Mako as part of the England U20s set-up. His dad, Elisi Vunipola, played in Super Rugby for the Brumbies, as well as appearing 41 times for Tonga – including at the 1995 and 1999 Rugby World Cups – and was his country’s most-capped player upon retirement in 2005.

His dad Jon played 12 Tests for England at senior level, scoring four tries, and also had a spell with Northampton Saints, where Ollie is a member of the academy set-up.

Tom has a famous father in Phil, the former Bath centre, who won 38 England caps from 1992-1999 and led his country eight times. He made his England U20 debut against France in the 2019 Six Nations, scoring his first try against Scotland.