In a game where the obsession is to see youth stars rise to the top and fulfil their potential at the elite level of the game, the truth is that it’s not all that likely for the vast majority.
That leaves us in wonderkid limbo – talents hyped up to unreachable heights who then inevitably fail to meet the mark and fade into obscurity as a result. While there are the select few that thrive on the pressure, the ‘wonderkid’ tag for many can actually be a bit of a career destroyer.
RUCK looks back at three of the biggest ‘wonderkids’ to flop and fade away in recent England Rugby history.
#1. George Perkins
The speedy Saracens wing had a 100m time best of 10.86secs and played in every U20 Six Nations after scoring on his debut England debut.
After struggling for game time at Allianz Park, Perkins joined Bristol Bears at the start of the 2017/18 season, where he joined up with new Director of Rugby Pat Lam, who described him as a ‘special talent’.
However, during an injury hit spell in the West Country, he did not make a league outing for the Bears before leaving by mutual consent.
Where is he now? He now works as a Technical Talent Consultant while also playing for Westcombe Park in London 1 South.
