All over the world, there are millions of young children who want to follow in their parents’ footsteps when they grow up, and it seems in Rugby there is no difference.
Here are five youngsters currently playing in the U20 Six Nations, looking to follow in the footsteps of their fathers.
#1. Dan Lancaster, son of Stuart (England U20)
Having not played club rugby since last March, the 19-year-old fly-half has been training alone for much of the past 16 months.
Training at West Park Leeds RUFC, where he started his rugby career and where Leeds Tykes will be playing their National One games, the former Bishop Burton pupil did enough to impress the England coaching staff in the North vs South matches to receive a call-up.
Dan’s father, Stuart, played the majority of his club career at Headingley and following his retirement, he worked as a key member of the side’s Academy between 2000 and 2005. He was then Director of Rugby for two seasons before taking on his first role with England.
#2. Lucas Brooke, son of Zinzan (England U20)
Brooke, who can play across the back-row or at hooker, grew up in England so is fully qualified to wear the red rose. The powerhouse has represented Berkshire at county level and regularly played for his school, Wellington College.
His father, All Blacks No.8 Zinzan Brooke, possessed the unique talent of being both an agile forward and having an impressive kicking side to his game.
#3.Theo Ntamack, son of Emile (France U20)
Born and bred in Toulouse, Theo Ntamack is the youngest son of Stade Toulousain and France legend Emile. His older brother Romain has already worked his way through the ranks at Toulouse and France.
Looking to follow in his brother's footsteps, Theo was included in the France u20 side for the 2021 Six Nations.
Unlike his father and older brother, Theo is a powerful back rower who normally packs down at no.8.
He enters the u20 Six Nations off the back of ending Toulouse's long wait for an Espoirs Championship title.
#4. Murray Redpath, son of Bryan (Scotland U20)
The scrum-half is the son of former Scotland captain Bryan and younger brother of Cameron, who made his full international debut in the Calcutta Cup win over England earlier this year.
#5. Christian Townsend, son of Gregor (Scotland U20)
Townsend and Redpath junior both play in the same positions their fathers did, stand-off and scrum-half respectively, thus creating the intriguing possibility of their forming a halfback partnership as their dads did so successfully in the mid-1990s and early 2000s.
During the 2019-20 season Townsend impressed with his game management as he helped Stewart’s Melville College win the Scottish Schools Cup final at under-18 level, played for Melrose’s senior first XV and trained with the Scotland under-18s.
Dad Gregor, the Scotland head coach, wton 82 full caps between 1993 and 2003 and also represented the British & Irish Lions during their Test series win over South Africa in 1997.
