RFU Director O’Shea Praises England’s “Generational” Young Rugby Talent

Rugby Football Union (RFU) director of performance, Conor O’Shea, has stated that England possesses a “generational” group of young talent, which he believes holds more potential than the squad that reached the 2019 World Cup final under Eddie Jones. This assessment follows England’s victory in World Rugby’s Under-20 Championship in July, their first win in that competition since 2016, which complemented their Six Nations triumph achieved in March. Mr. O’Shea expressed enthusiasm for the “very special” talent pool, encompassing not only those within the under-20s programme but also players aged 25 or younger who are already part of the England senior squad. Speaking to BBC Sport, O’Shea stated, “I believe that the group of players that are coming together – I am not just talking about last year’s under-20s, you’re talking from Ollie Chessum (24), George Martin (23), Tommy Freeman (23) down – that age group is really, really special. It is generational.” He further noted the age profiles of players such as Marcus Smith (25) and Ben Earl (26), adding, “When you marry all that together and put experience and years into them, there is a very, very special group.” O’Shea concluded this point by saying, “It is really exciting not just from a pathway point of view but from an England and club point of view. These aren’t just normal players, these are special players.” In 2011, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, and Mako Vunipola were all starters for England’s under-20 team, which was defeated by the New Zealand “Baby Blacks” in the Junior World Championship final. Subsequently, these individuals played significant roles in England’s progression to the 2019 World Cup final, coached by Jones. Four years following that, Steve Borthwick’s squad came close to another World Cup final appearance, with many players from the aforementioned age group once more making contributions. O’Shea, who served as director of rugby at Harlequins from 2010 to 2016, commented, “The time that Farrell and Ford were coming through I was in the system.” He added, “I would say I am more excited about this cohort and what they can achieve. They have unbelievable potential if they are in the right system.” O’Shea, a former Ireland full-back responsible for the overarching development of young players, commenced his role at the RFU in 2020, after a three-year tenure leading Italy’s national team. In December 2023, O’Shea had previously stated that England’s rugby framework had “failed miserably” in providing opportunities for young talent. He now indicates that improvements are anticipated through the new eight-year Professional Game Partnership (PGP), external, an initiative established in September after 18 months of collaborative effort, which aligns Premiership clubs and the national team. A further modification involves selecting players a year younger for the England Under-18 squad’s summer tour of South Africa, thereby extending their time within the development system prior to advancing to the under-20s. Additionally, Steve Borthwick and his senior coaching personnel have increased their involvement, with 2003 World Cup winner Richard Hill playing a significant role in the elevation of flanker Chandler Cunningham-South to the senior squad. O’Shea elaborated, “We [Borthwick and I] talk more than regularly. I would say four or five times a week, if not more.” He continued, “I would swap texts with Steve through matches, we will have pathway meetings that Steve will start coming to.” O’Shea concluded this point by stating, “The dialogue is getting stronger every week.” Uncapped players Afolabi Fasogbon and Henry Pollock are expected to seek involvement in England A’s upcoming fixture against Australia A on Sunday. England A is scheduled to host Australia A at Twickenham Stoop this Sunday. This match follows their 91-5 triumph over Portugal in February, which signified the reintroduction of A fixtures after an eight-year hiatus. A subsequent fixture is planned for February against Ireland A at Bristol’s Ashton Gate, as the RFU endeavors to reinstate more consistent A-team matches to help bridge the divide between Premiership and Test rugby. Following his achievements with England Under-20s, Mark Mapletoft has been appointed head coach for Sunday’s game, accompanied by forwards coach Andy Titterrell, who also participated with the World Championship-winning team during the summer. The A squad comprises a blend of under-20 champions, including Northampton Saints flanker Henry Pollock and Gloucester prop Afolabi Fasogbon, alongside established senior internationals such as Tom Willis, Joe Heyes, Curtis Langdon, Tom Pearson, and Fraser Dingwall. Titterrell commented, “I think it is a great progression and keeps the alignment in-between the pathway and the seniors.” He added, “It is showing the importance and hard work going on behind the scenes to give those boys the exposure so they can see what that next level feels like.”