From Ireland playmaker Joey Carbery to England centre Joe Marchant, RUCK takes a look at the five players who The Guardian expected to take the game by storm back in 2017 and sees how they are getting on now.
#1. Joey Carbery
They said: "It took him three minutes on his first full appearance for Leinster in September to announce himself, receiving the ball on his own 10-metre line against Treviso and confounding three defenders to score the first of two tries. Ireland have a succession plan for Sexton."
Where is he now? Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. An established member of the Ireland (35 caps) and Leinster squads, however, remains behind 37-year-old Sexton in the pecking order.
Joey Carbery of Ireland during the warm up before the Six Nations Championship match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on the 12th March 2022 - PHOTO: George Tewkesbury/PPAUK
#2. Christian Scotland-Williamson
They said: "Scotland-Williamson has been compared to Courtney Lawes with his ability to make dents in defences and haul down ball-carriers, big, strong and athletic."
Where is he now? Shocked everybody by quitting rugby later that year to pursue a career in the NFL. Returned to the Premiership with Harlequins in 2021, but was released in June and is currently clubless.
#3. Thomas Young
They said: "Young has the handling skills, adept at drawing tacklers and off-loading, he has pace and he has a breakaway’s instinct for being in the right place. There is more than a touch of Martyn Williams about him, a constant link between forwards and backs."
Where is he now? Following a fantastic time with Wasps, the flanker confirmed that he will play for Cardiff Rugby from the 2022–2023 season onwards in a bid to add to his three Wales caps.
Try celebrations for Thomas Young of Wasps during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Wasps at Twickenham Stoop, London on May 9 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
#4. Joe Marchant
They said: "Marchant is in a position where England are hardly struggling for options but, having been called into the 45-man elite player squad on Saturday, he is clearly impressing Eddie Jones, who has talked about the need to work on England’s attack. In Marchant, he has a merchant of menace."
Where is he now? He featured for an England XV against the Barbarians in the summer of 2019 before becoming a regular member of Eddie Jones' England squad.
Joe Marchant of England on the break during the Match between England and Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium on 19 June 2022. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#5. Keelan Giles (Wales)
They said: "It is a case of when he makes his international debut, with Wales inviting him to train with the team at the end of last summer’s tour to New Zealand, after the Junior World Cup, to integrate him early."
Where is he now? Still waiting for that international debut. In a career ravaged by injuries, he remains with Welsh side the Ospreys.
Keelan Giles of Wales is tackled by Paolo Odogwu of England during the U20s Six Nations Match between England U20s and Wales U20s at Ashton Gate on March 11, 2016 in Bristol.
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