The INCREDIBLY Talented U20 Class Of 2010
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The INCREDIBLY Talented U20 Class Of 2010
We continue to look back at past U20 World Championship and have a look at where some of the players who have had gone to reach the pinnacle of test rugby and star on the domestic scene.
Kurtley Beale, Quade Cooper, David Pocock, Sam Warburton, Francois Hougaard, Aaron Smith, Michael Leitch and Sam Whitelock were amongst the stars in the inaugural year of the u20 format in 2008.
In 2009, Aaron Cruden stole the show with a junior All Blacks side that included Zac Guildford and Tom Taylor. Justin Tipuric captained Wales while Jamie George, Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes all turned out for England.
The 2010 Junior World Championship was the third annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams. Hosted by Argentina the 2010 competition was won by New Zealand who thrashed Australia 17–62 in the final.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. South Africa
4. England
5. France
6. Argentina
7. Wales
8. Fiji
9. Ireland
10. Scotland
11. Tonga
12. Samoa
Argentina
Argentina managed to finish in sixth place with a number of their u20 stars going onto becoming successful Los Pumas stars.
Tomas de la Vega returned for a second year of u20s and would also go on to represent the senior side but there were others whose names have become far more recognisable.
The likes of Ramiro Moyano, Manuel Montero, Javier Ortega Desio and Matías Alemanno have all gone on to play for the Jaguares and Argentina with all but Montero going to the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Moyano, Ortega Desio and Alemanno, in particular, are all regular starters for the side.
Australia
Another extremely talented side followed the stars from the two previous years but 2010 saw the Junoir Wallabies finally produce as they reached the final.
However, they were comprehensively beaten. The likes of Matt Toomua, Nic White, Liam Gill, Luke Jones, Luke Morahan, Dom Shipperley, Ed Quirk, Aidan Toua and Scott Sio would all go on to represent the Wallabies.
There were others who have gone to enjoy stellar careers in domestic competitions in Australia, Europe and other competitions as such as Robbie Coleman, Jake Schatz, Paul Alo-Emile, Colby Faingaa, Jono Lance, Lachlan McCaffrey and Cruze Ah-Nau.
England
Another strong England side turned up to the u20 Championship but this time they were unable to reach the final and lost the third-place playoff to South Africa.
England fans got the first look at Christian Wade who would go on to be a star in the Premiership and won a single cap for the national senior side before making a switch to the NFL.
Wade was part of an extremely exciting back three with Tom Homer, Marcus Watson and Jonny May with May currently on track to break the England try-scoring record.
2019 Rugby World Cup Finalists Jamie Goerge, Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola packed down for the u20s in 2010 with fellow finalist George Kruise in the pack.
The likes of Jamie Gibson, Calum Green, Will Welch, Jackson Wray, Freddie Burns and Will Hurrell were also part of the side.
Fiji
Josh Matavesi made his first steps towards professional rugby with the Fiji u20s in 2010 with Nemani Nadolo's brother Chris Kuridrani also lining up in the backline with Kurdrani.
Tevita Kuridrani also lined up for the Fijians but would switch allegiances to feature for Australia in 2011 and would go on to make his test debut for the Wallabies in 2013 and hasn't looked back since.
France
France would finish fifth overall with a number of future Les Bleus internationals in their ranks.
Tightheads Eddy Ben Arous and Xavier Choicci have regularly donned the Les Bleus jersey with the same applying to the likes of Remi Lamerat, Romain Taofifenua and Brice Dulin.
Hugo Bonneval was also part of the side that had a number of players who have enjoyed fantastic careers in the TOP14 including Jeremy Sinzelle, Gilles Bosch, Julien Fritz, Mickael Ivaldi, Kevin Gimeno and Jean Marc Doussain.
Ireland
Rhys Ruddock returned for Ireland once again and would captain the side that finished a lowly 9th.
There were a number of stellar players in the side though with the likes of Denis Buckley, Andrew Conway, John Cooney, Jordi Murphy, Tiernan O'Halloran, Noel Reid, Dominic Ryan and Simon Zebo all going on to play test rugby for Ireland.
The likes of Niall Annett, Paddy Butler, Ben Marshall and David O'Callaghan have all enjoyed careers in Europe's top flight.
The late Ulster centre Nevin Spencer was also in the side. Spencer tragically died in a farm-yard accident only two years after the U20 success, a huge loss to Irish rugby.
New Zealand:
Another powerful New Zealand u20 side surged to another title in Argentina with a stellar side of future internationals.
Angus Taavao had an interesting journey through Australia following his time with the New Zealand u20s that eventually saw him turning out for the All Blacks and making the Rugby World Cup squad.
Liam Coltman would join Taavao in the All Blacks squad that went to Japan while Julian Savea tormented defenders during the u20 World Championship in 2010 and would do the same with All Blacks in years to come.
Luke Whitelock would also go on to represent the All Blacks along with Charlie Ngatai before the pair headed off to France with Jeffery Toomaga-Allen also playing for New Zealand before heading to England. Tawera Kerr-Barlow also featured in the u20 side and went on to win a World Cup with the All Blacks.
Tyler Bleyendaal captained the New Zealand u20s and would enjoy a career with the Crusaders, Canterbury and Munster before announcing his retirement earlier this year.
Jason Woodward would go on to play for the Melbourne Rebels and has since qualified to represent England and is currently turning out for Gloucester.
Hayden Parker has become well known for his stellar goal kicking in Super Rugby and currently plies his trade in Japan. Blade Thomson has gone on to play for Scotland with Telusa Veianu also going on to represent another nation with Tonga.
Tom Franklin, Kayne Hammington and Tom Marshall have all gone on to enjoy careers at the top flight with Paul Ngauamo also going on to play for Tonga.
Samoa:
Future All Black Steven Luatua would follow a similar route to Tevita Kuridrani as he represented Samoa in 2010 before going on to play for the New Zealand u20 side a year later.
He too would play for the All Blacks before going to England signing for Bristol where he captains the side and is a firm fan favourite.
Patrick Faapale went onto play both sevens and 15s for Samoa's senior side while Josh Tyrell has too gone on to play for the senior side while turning out for North Harbour, Waikato, Oyonnax and Doncaster Knights.
Scotland:
A Scotland side filled with future Scottish internationals finished 10th overall.
The likes of Alex Dunbar, Grant Gilchrist, Rob Harley, Stuart McInally, Tom Brown, David Denton, Matt Scott and Duncan Weir have all gone on to play for the senior side with Dougie Fife featuring in the sevens squad.
South Africa:
A stacked Junior Springbok side saw the likes of Clayton Blommetjies, Ruan Combrinck, Garth April, Jono Ross, Gary van Aswegen and Anthony Volmink miss out on the squad to head to Argentina.
Elton Jantjies was the starting flyhalf for the Junoir Springboks during the competition and would go on to win the Rugby World Cup with now-retired Springbok Pat Lambie at fullback. World Cup-winning captain in 2019, Siya Kolisi also featured in the side but squad that went to Argentina was captained by future Ireland and British and Irish no.8 CJ Stander.
The likes of Ruan Dreyer, Jaco Taute, Louis Schreuder, Marcel van der Merwe and Francois Venter would all go onto play for the Springboks. Sevens superstar Branco du Preez also played in the same backline as Lambie and Jantjies with Super Rugby stars Wandile Mjekevu and Sibusiso Sithole.
Flanker Tera Mtembu would go on to captain the Sharks with locks Peet Marais and Sebastian de Chaves plying their trade in Europe.
Tonga:
George Moala and Charles Piutau both featured for Tonga and would go on to play for the All Blacks before heading to Europe after featuring on the test scene.
Piutau would play for the New Zealand u20s a year later and made his test debut in 2013.
David Fe'ao has gone on to enjoy a career abroad while going on to represent Tonga at test level along with Ofa Finau.
Wales:
Yet another stellar stock of Wales u20s. Wales finished seventh overall with the likes of Ashley Beck, Scott Williams, Matthew Jarvis, James King, Josh Navidi, Gareth Davies, Owen Williams, Taulupe Faletau and Rhodri Jones in their ranks.
The impressive Faletau would go on to play for Wales' test side just a year later.
