Always a Wasp

General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: COYW15 on January 03, 2022, 10:13:12 AM

Title: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: COYW15 on January 03, 2022, 10:13:12 AM
Congratulations to Alfie, Kofi, Robin, and Olly for their selection. (Apologies for missing out Alfie first time round!)

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
John Stewart (Bath)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)
 
Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester)
Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Wasps)
George Hendy (Northampton)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)
Fin Smith (Worcester)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/england-mens-u20-2022-elite-player-squad-announced
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Neils on January 03, 2022, 10:15:24 AM
Well done lads. Ones to watch.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: CV2 on January 03, 2022, 10:20:22 AM
4 with Alfie Bell too
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Neils on January 03, 2022, 10:21:25 AM
4 with Alfie Bell too

Well done missed him too.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: HDAWG on January 03, 2022, 10:29:33 AM
Excellent news. I recognise Cripps and Bell from the 8 u18s promoted to senior academy, Hartley as he's been in some Orem cup games, but don't know Hardwick.

Bell being a Lock is exciting potential.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Westy68 on January 03, 2022, 11:00:30 AM
That’s pretty good to have 4 players in the u20’s. How good is the u20’s this year? It’s difficult to tell is the last 2 years with no World Cup. Prior to that We’ve been lucky to have some pretty good squads. France obviously benefiting from from 2018 and 19

Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Steve from Cov on January 03, 2022, 11:01:32 AM
Excellent news. I recognise Cripps and Bell from the 8 u18s promoted to senior academy, Hartley as he's been in some Orem cup games, but don't know Hardwick.

Bell being a Lock is exciting potential.

Robin Hardwick - who is the son of Robin Hardwick - attended Rugby School and looks the part as a big THP. Hopefully he is one to watch out for.

Rob Hardwick senior played for Barkers Butts alongside Danny Grewcock, Neil Back etc before joining Coventry RFC and then London Irish. Rob gained one England cap I believe.

I’m delighted we have 4 in the squad.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Westy68 on January 03, 2022, 11:12:45 AM
Hell I’ve just seen Alfie Bell is 6’8 and over 17 stone at 18. Fingers crossed we may see 3 or 4 players making more appearances for wasps in the next season or 2
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Shugs on January 03, 2022, 11:30:40 AM
Well done to them. Some exciting talent to keep an eye on.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Steve from Cov on January 03, 2022, 12:02:28 PM
Hell I’ve just seen Alfie Bell is 6’8 and over 17 stone at 18. Fingers crossed we may see 3 or 4 players making more appearances for wasps in the next season or 2

Alfie Bell is a former King Henry VIII, Coventry, pupil.

I’m delighted to see local youngsters like Alfie and Rob Hardwick slowly progressing through the Wasps ranks.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: JonnyD on January 03, 2022, 12:03:48 PM
Strange that Atkinson is not included despite the talents of Smith and Bailey already in the squad
Could be possible that we’ve said he’s unavailable.

Great work for the four selected especially Cripps and Bell who will have two years at this level.
A few others like Fyn Brown must have been close too.

Looks like an exciting squad
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 03, 2022, 01:08:37 PM
3 of the 4 are forwards. This is not unusual for us (that imbalance). We simply don't seem able to recruit the better backs.
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: backdoc on January 03, 2022, 01:39:41 PM
Excellent news. I recognise Cripps and Bell from the 8 u18s promoted to senior academy, Hartley as he's been in some Orem cup games, but don't know Hardwick.

Bell being a Lock is exciting potential.

Robin Hardwick - who is the son of Robin Hardwick - attended Rugby School and looks the part as a big THP. Hopefully he is one to watch out for.

Rob Hardwick senior played for Barkers Butts alongside Danny Grewcock, Neil Back etc before joining Coventry RFC and then London Irish. Rob gained one England cap I believe.

I’m delighted we have 4 in the squad.

Hardwick is on the Wasps website as a Loose head - which may or may not be correct  ;D
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Raggs on January 03, 2022, 03:10:48 PM
Strange that Atkinson is not included despite the talents of Smith and Bailey already in the squad
Could be possible that we’ve said he’s unavailable.

Great work for the four selected especially Cripps and Bell who will have two years at this level.
A few others like Fyn Brown must have been close too.

Looks like an exciting squad

I suspect he'll get regular prem time with us, which is a higher standard.
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: JonnyD on January 04, 2022, 01:29:45 PM
Just saw that Lucas Brooke is Zinzan Brooke’s son. Knew he was at Irish but didn’t realise he was this far in his development.

With another Grayson in this squad, the likes of of Lynagh, sleightholme, de glanville, on the verge of international rugby and our U18s with a Logan coming up I’m feeling quite old
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: baldpaul101 on January 04, 2022, 02:01:33 PM
This is crying out for a "Famous fathers" team to be put together, but there doesnt seem to be as many forwards with famous dads though?
Wonder why that is?
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Mellie on January 04, 2022, 03:30:32 PM
Just saw that Lucas Brooke is Zinzan Brooke’s son. Knew he was at Irish but didn’t realise he was this far in his development.

With another Grayson in this squad, the likes of of Lynagh, sleightholme, de glanville, on the verge of international rugby and our U18s with a Logan coming up I’m feeling quite old

Not that old. The first club game I attended was Quins v Gosforth at the old open Stoop in 1980. Paul Gustard's dad was playing for Gosforth! I noticed Bob Hiller was playing for the Quins 2nd team on the adjacent pitch too.

My first Wasps game, the same year at Sudbury, 19 year old  Nigel Melville was playing as well as All Black Mark Taylor.

The first actual game I attended was a varsity match at Twickenham. Nigel Starmer-Smith played in that and South African international Tommy Bedford. I played my first ever game of rugby that same year. I've played a few games as a sub this season!
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Rossm on January 04, 2022, 04:52:49 PM
Faces and names ;) ;) ;)

Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: 13thWarrior on January 04, 2022, 05:44:18 PM
This is crying out for a "Famous fathers" team to be put together, but there doesnt seem to be as many forwards with famous dads though?
Wonder why that is?

Wild speculation time:

Successful sports stars marry petite women and so don't have very large children

Offspring of rugby players get introduced to sport early, therefore have good ball skills and are active from an early age and so end up as backs.

Rugby players know how hard being a forward is and so dissuade their children from being one.

Any other suggestions? I guess our own T Young would be an exception?
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: Shugs on January 04, 2022, 05:53:44 PM
Josh Beaumont?
Title: Re: Three Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: COYW15 on January 04, 2022, 06:54:15 PM
Excellent news. I recognise Cripps and Bell from the 8 u18s promoted to senior academy, Hartley as he's been in some Orem cup games, but don't know Hardwick.

Bell being a Lock is exciting potential.

Robin Hardwick - who is the son of Robin Hardwick - attended Rugby School and looks the part as a big THP. Hopefully he is one to watch out for.

Rob Hardwick senior played for Barkers Butts alongside Danny Grewcock, Neil Back etc before joining Coventry RFC and then London Irish. Rob gained one England cap I believe.

I’m delighted we have 4 in the squad.

Hardwick is on the Wasps website as a Loose head - which may or may not be correct  ;D

For a moment there I thought you were implying they'd updated the academy profiles! Wishful thinking.
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: hookender on January 04, 2022, 07:13:22 PM
How about Nick Youngs  - sons Tom and Ben
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: backdoc on January 04, 2022, 07:31:32 PM
"For a moment there I thought you were implying they'd updated the academy profiles! Wishful thinking."

!!

They have.

But the whole club is together, academy, coaches and all.

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/wasps/squad
Title: Re: Four Wasps in England U20 Squad
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 04, 2022, 09:06:52 PM
"For a moment there I thought you were implying they'd updated the academy profiles! Wishful thinking."

!!

They have.

But the whole club is together, academy, coaches and all.

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/wasps/squad

Except that isn't the Wasps site.