13 young players to watch in the Premiership

Colin Newboult
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Ahead of the start of the Premiership season, we take a look at some of the talented young players that could make a significant impact.

With several gifted individuals coming through the respective academies in England’s top tier, Planet Rugby selects one from each team.

Max Ojomoh (Bath)

Orlando Bailey made a huge impression last season but we think this will be the year the talented Ojomoh breaks through. Quick and with an eye for a gap, he is a very classy and balanced runner. Also, as the son of former Red Rose flanker Steve, he is able to handle himself in contact and can make the tough yards on the gain line. However, it is his playmaking skills which particularly excite us. The centre has a lovely passing game, showing some of those qualities in the Bath XV at the end of last season, and 2021/22 is where he should really kick on.

Ioan Lloyd (Bristol Bears)

No need for introductions for the already-capped Wales international, who has cemented himself in the Bristol squad over the past year. Lloyd is one of the most talented players in Europe and has often impressed when given an opportunity in the Bears side. The only question is in which position he sees his long-term future. He could go through his career as a utility back, alternating between fly-half, wing and full-back but, like Austin Healey, that could hamper him later down the line, certainly when it comes to discussing the success of his career. At the age of 20, Lloyd still has time on his side, however, and will continue to provide options across Bristol’s backline this season. Also watch out for the athletic back-row Fitz Harding, who should have even more game time in the upcoming campaign.

Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs)

Exeter have such a strong squad, especially in the back three, that you have to be exceptional to break through, but Hodge could easily be that player. The former age-grade star had his moments last season, which included scoring a sensational try against Gloucester in the Premiership, but his chances were limited. He has all the skills but sometimes makes some needless mistakes, something which does not go down too well in the efficient machine which is the Chiefs. However, he is another year older and wiser, and will no doubt be part of Rob Baxter’s plans for this season.

Sam Riley (Harlequins)

England have a plethora of talented hookers and this is another one to add to the list. Riley didn’t get much game time last season but, following the departures of Scott Baldwin and Elia Elia, he should certainly be much more involved this time around. Joe Gray is there as the experienced, reliable pro, while Jack Walker has joined from Bath, but there is certainly an opportunity for the youngster to cement himself as first choice in the front-row this season. Riley was exceptional in the recent age-grade Six Nations, combining barnstorming runs in the loose with a wonderful skill set, while his set-piece work was also solid. Certainly a player to watch.

Jack Clement (Gloucester)

Another highly-rated member of the England U20 Grand Slam winners in the recent Six Nations. Clement has already featured for Gloucester on a number of occasions and was rewarded with a call-up to the full Red Rose training squad. Although an international cap seems some way off when you consider the talent in the English back-row, Clement will continue to shine for the Cherry and Whites this season. He is an imposing figure, plays across the back-row and can help revive the West Country outfit’s fortunes.

George Martin (Leicester Tigers)

Like Bristol’s Lloyd, Martin is already well known to those in England, and potentially the UK, having made his international bow in the recent Six Nations. It was a surprising call by Eddie Jones and you suspect the plan wasn’t for him to come on in that game, but injury gave the Leicester Tiger his chance and, to be fair, he looked ready-made for Test rugby. In what was an awful performance by the Red Rose against Ireland, Martin looked assured and made a couple of impressive carries. It shows he has the physicality for the top level of the game, but the lock/back-row also has the rugby smarts. With Jones looking for that hybrid forward to fill in at blindside, the Tigers starlet may well be that man over the coming years. It is an exciting time to be a Leicester fan with Jack van Poortvliet and Dan Kelly two other young players that could become international regulars over the next couple of years.

Will Joseph (London Irish)

The younger brother of England centre Jonathan is one of a number of exciting youngsters in the London Irish ranks. The likes of Ben Loader, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Donnell have already made significant impressions in the first team and Joseph is perhaps the latest to nail down his spot. He made both his European and Premiership debut last season, despite only being 18, and should get even more game time in 2021/22. Capable of playing full-back, wing or centre, Joseph has similar traits to his sibling and it wouldn’t be a surprise should he also become an England international.

Chidera Obonna (Newcastle Falcons)

Whenever the back was handed an opportunity for the Falcons he impressed and the centre or wing will hopefully kick on this season. Obonna made his debut for Newcastle in the European Challenge Cup, coming off the bench against Castres and helping to create three tries in that victory in France. His appearances after that were intermittent but he started to get some more chances towards the end of the campaign, touching down for the first time against Northampton Saints. Powerful and quick, with a good skill set under pressure, Obonna has the aptitude to become a regular in 2021/22.

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)

Ollie Sleightholme is another back three player to throw into the mix but injuries have certainly limited his game time over the past 18 months. At the moment, Freeman seems slightly more durable and, as a result, has become a regular for Saints in the Premiership and in Europe. He showed his talent on a number of occasions last season and is comfortable either on the wing or at full-back. Freeman has pace to burn, is a wonderfully balanced runner, hits great lines and off-loads well out of the tackle.

Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)

There are a few Sale youngsters worthy of a mention. Bevan Rodd and Scots starlet Ewan Ashman have become regulars in the first team, while Tom Roebuck and Connor Doherty have been entrusted in big games. Also expect to see more of Tom Curtis and James Harper this season, but Quirke is undoubtedly the player observers are most excited about. It is partly due to the scrum-half shortage in England but mainly the fact that he is a thrilling talent that can do everything very well. Quirke’s obvious strength is his work around the fringes – the 20-year-old is lighting quick and also deceptively strong – but he also has a sharp pass and box-kicks pretty well. The half-back can still improve significantly in the latter two areas but, if he does, the battle between him and Van Poortvliet for the England number nine jersey will be great to watch over the next decade.

Harvey Beaton (Saracens)

We wouldn’t say there’s currently a dearth of talent coming through the Saracens academy but, for a team that were once the leading lights at producing English talent, other clubs have very much caught up and perhaps overtaken the three-time Champions Cup victors. There is plenty of ability there in the shape of Sam Cream, Theo Dan and Ben Harris, while Kapeli Pifeleti and Joel Kpoku are first team players that should get even more game time, but Ben Earl and Max Malins were the last of their golden era. Beaton, however, could well become a Saracens great if he continues his improvement next season. The prop made a huge impression for the England U20s in June and July, scrummaging very well and also showing plenty of quality in the loose, whether it was defence, breakdown work or carrying. Sarries have plenty of excellent tightheads, but don’t be surprised if Beaton forces his way into the reckoning.

Alfie Barbeary (Wasps)

Quite simply, Barbeary just needs to stay injury-free and he will be playing for England by the end of the season. He has played all of his professional rugby in the back-row but most see his long-term future at hooker. However, wherever the youngster plays in the pack, he tends to impress. Many within the England age-grade set up regard him as the best prospect they have ever seen with his power and athleticism obvious from the outset. Barbeary is also, from what we have viewed at youth level, a good set-piece operator, but you can see why Wasps head coach Lee Blackett initially wanted to protect him from the stresses a hooker has to face at the lineout and scrum.

Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors)

Worcester have brought through a talented crop of youngsters recently, with Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence the obvious two, and Smith is the latest to emerge with a real chance of excelling at Premiership level. After showing plenty of promise towards the end of last season, the fly-half took that into the U20 Six Nations and he helped guide England to another Grand Slam. The exciting pivot controls the game nicely, plays flat to the line and has the pace to find gaps in the opposition defence. With relegation not in the equation for the perennial strugglers, due to the Premiership ring-fencing the top-tier, this is an opportunity for the Warriors to provide Smith with a chance to impress.

Bath