#4. Raffie Quirke (Sale Sharks)
- Age: 20
- Club: Sale Sharks
- Position: Scrum-half
McGeechan wrote: “This was a difficult choice, but presently I think Quirke stands ahead of Leicester Tigers’ outstanding Jack van Poortvliet, who is yet another excellent player to come out of East Anglia. England have been reliant on Ben Youngs for longer than I care to remember, but the presence of this pair and other challengers like Harry Randall has prompted Youngs to redefine his game.
“I still think, however, that Quirke could come through before the 2023 World Cup. With England’s faster game, his speed, tempo and eye for a break are exactly what’s needed and complement Marcus Smith, and his try against South Africa in the Autumn highlighted the potential and quality he carries.”
DID YOU KNOW? Quirke was also a triathlete, following in the footsteps of both of his parents, becoming North-West champion at triathlon when 12 or 13
