Alfie Barbeary | 5 Things to Know About The England Debutant

Tuesday, 01 December 2020 at 16:01

byRugby Rucker

England boss Eddie Jones has handed hooker Alfie Barbeary his international call-up ahead of the Autumn Nations Cup final against France on Sunday.

Barbeary is rated as one of English rugby’s most exciting prospects, scoring a hat-trick on his Premiership debut for Wasps, who have also used his ball-carrying talents in the back row.

Here are five things you should know about the 20-year-old Wasps forward.

1. Position change

He grew up dreaming of playing in the centres, having grown up idolising Manu Tuilagi, Ma'a Nonu and Mathieu Bastareaud. However, he is now firmly a part of the forward pack in either the front or back-row

2. Terrifying two minutes

This is why Alfie Barbeary is rated so highly.

3. Car

The forward drives a Mercedes A-Class.

4. Dog person

Dog really is a man's best friend.

5. Inspiration

"Mark Horrocks, my first coach at Banbury, was very influential. Then as I got older, Peter Walton and John Fletcher, who gave me confidence to play how I want to play. How it shouldn’t be unusual for a forward to kick it or offload."

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Warren Gatland named five England players as ‘certainties’ for the 2021 Lions tour

Speaking to the BBC in November 2019, Warren Gatland was asked by Ugo Monye to name five certainties for his Lions XV to face South Africa in 2021.

One year on, let's look at who he picked:

1. Jamie George

Position: Hooker

Age: 30

How's he doing? George has continued to star for England and is 1/20 to make the 2021 squad. Almost the first name on the team sheet right now following his hat-trick against Georgia.

DID YOU KNOW? He is an Aston Villa fan with his current favourite player being Jack Grealish.

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2. Maro Itoje

Position: Lock/Back-row

Age: 26

How's he doing? Still one of the best in the world. Definitely a certainty.

DID YOU KNOW? Gloucester speedster Ollie Thorley is Itoje’s cousin, after his grandfather re-married a Nigerian woman who is the Saracens lock’s aunt.

3. Tom Curry

Position: Flanker:

Age: 22

How's he doing? His performances across 2019 saw him nominated for the World Rugby player of the year. His stock has continued to rise since then. A certainty.

DID YOU KNOW? Tom studied at Oundle School – where the master in charge of rugby was their uncle and former England international John Olver.

4. Anthony Watson

Position: Back-three

Age: 26

How's he doing? Injury has ravaged his year, although he did make his return for England against Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup. Outstanding on his day, but not a certainty for the squad right now.

DID YOU KNOW? His uncle, Mark Watson, was one of the Concorde pilots. His two brothers, Marcus (Wasps) & Callum (Loughborough Students) are also rugby players

5. Manu Tuilagi

Position: Centre

Age: 29

How's he doing? Ruled out until at least May with an achilles injury, his chances of touring are starting to fade.

DID YOU KNOW? He became England’s youngest RWC player at 20 years and 115 days against Argentina, being 15 days younger than Jonny Wilkinson, who set the record in 1999.