LIST: Three Rugby Wonderkids Who Never Reached Their Potential

Friday, 27 August 2021 at 21:35

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byRugby Rucker

In a time where we are all busily fixated on the next best thing in rugby, here we take a look at three players touted to be just that who did not find such a fate…

#1. Gavin Henson (Wales)

The man who tackled Matthew Tait on his England debut. Despite two Six Nations winner’s medals, Henson falls firmly into the category of those that failed to fulfill their massive potential.

But despite his love for hobnobbing with C-list celebrities, appearing on reality TV shows and an awful bottled tan, all of which seemed to take precedence over his rugby, Henson actually didn’t have that bad a career.

He's now running a pub back in Wales while trying his hand a bit of rugby league.

Henson has participated in several reality television series: .

71 Degrees North, Strictly Come Dancing, The Bachelor and Celebrity Hunted

#2. Matthew Tait (England)

Making his debut against Wales, the then-18-year-old was repeatedly dumped by Welsh centre Gavin Henson. That day would set back Tait’s development significantly, but he still played in the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

After a quiet tournament, Tait lit up the final against South Africa with a dashing break that led to Mark Cueto’s infamously disallowed try.

But if Tait’s footwork in the final demonstrated his talent, he was never able to demonstrate that consistently on the biggest stage.

Shifts from outside centre, to wing and then to full-back stunted his progress and were indicative of a possible star whose versatility worked against him ultimately. He retired in 2018.

#3. Ben Atiga (New Zealand)

There was a time when Atiga was seen as such a potent attacking weapon that British Lions coach Clive Woodward singled out the Aucklander as the man of whom he was most wary ahead of the 2005 tour to New Zealand.

But despite the centre/fullback looking set for superstardom only played one test for the All Blacks, against Tonga in the 2003 Rugby World Cup after being called into the squad as an injury replacement for Ben Blair.

However, after struggling injury problems of his own, Atiga made the decision to take a break from professional rugby in 2008. He returned to rugby two years later and eventually joined Edinburgh in 2012 but was forced to retire two seasons later due to season due to joint disease.

DID YOU KNOW? Atiga's Samoan Grandfather played in the first Samoan international team