'Cursed list' - England's five best young players from 2011 a decade later

The theory goes that players improve with greater experience before their fitness deteriorates and they inevitably get worse.

However, a look back at the best England prospects aged 21 or under from Rugby World in 2011 shows that not every promising youngster is destined for greater things.

The former winger left Wasps in October 2018 to pursue an American football career, signing with the Buffalo Bills via the International Player Pathway programme. Despite his stellar form with Wasps in the Gallagher. Premiership, the speedster won just one cap for England.

The scrum half who came through the Bath Rugby Academy – made over 140 appearances for the Blue, Black and White before joining Bristol Bears in July 2020. Despite being first choice for England U20, with Dan Robson on the bench, Cook has failed to push through into the senior set-up.

The flanker confirmed his retirement from rugby union in 2018 - 18 months after breaking his leg on England duty. The 26-year-old broke his leg, his ankle, his syndesmosis (a joint between the tibia and fibula at the ankle) during a judo session grappling with Maro Itoje in training.

After leaving Sale Sharks, Thomas is now nearing 100 appearance for Bath Rugby. Strong in the scrum, Thomas also looks to make his presence felt when given the opportunity to run with ball in hand. He has made seven appearances for England, but they were all from the bench with his latest cap coming in 2014.

Ford scored 59 points during England’s Junior World Championship campaign in Italy in 2011, having contributed 76 points to their Grand Slam earlier in the year, and was crowned the World Rugby Young Player of the Year. He was included in the England Senior Elite Player Squad for the first time in January 2014. His first Test appearance was off the bench for Owen Farrell in the final minutes of England’s 29-18 victory over Wales at Twickenham in March 2014. He was part of the England squads that won the 2016 and 2017 Six Nations, and started in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final at fly half.