TRANSFER | Another England U20 star makes move to Wales
Rugby NewsWednesday, 26 February 2020 at 12:17
Fullback Mat Protheroe has signed a two-year deal to join the Ospreys next season.
The Swansea-born back three player, who can also play fly half, is currently with English club side Bristol Bears.
Protheroe won a scholarship to the famous Hartpury College as a teenager and represented England at U18 and U20 level. He scored seven tries in 14 games for Hartpury RFC in National League One in England in 2015.
After playing most of his rugby in the professional ranks in England, Protheroe returns home to the city and team he watched as a young boy. He is the second new signing for the Ospreys next season, following scrum half Rhys Webb in December.
"I am a Swansea lad and I grew up watching the Ospreys," said Protheroe.
"James Hook, Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe, Jonathan Thomas, Filo Tiatia and Lee Byrne were the players I used to turn up at the Liberty to watch as a young boy.
"I grew up watching those players. Having the chance to follow in their footsteps is a big thing for me.
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"It's just a really exciting challenge for me. I have never played in the Guinness Pro14, which is a new league for me, so it's just exciting for me and I am really looking forward to the challenge."
He signed his first professional contract with Gloucester Rugby in the same year, before he left to join Bristol Bears in the RFU Championship from the 2017-18 season. Protheroe lit up Ashton Gate, winning try of the season for his length of the field effort versus Cornish Pirates in 2018.
England players who went onto play for other countries…
Nick Tompkins says it is a “huge honour” to be called up by Wales after they poached him from under England’s noses for this year’s Six Nations.
The 24-year-old has shone at youth level for England and was part of the 2014 Under-20 World Cup-winning team captained by club team-mate Maro Itoje.
Another England U20 star who could make their senior international debut next month is Billy Burns, who was named by Andy Farrell in Ireland's Six Nations squad.
But they aren't the only player who represented England at age grade or counties who went onto represent tother countries at Test level...
1. Will Addison (Ireland)
Addison was part of the England U20 side which won the Junior Six Nations.[He also featured at the 2012 Junior World Cup.
In March 2018 it was announced that Addison would be joining Pro14 side Ulster with the centre being an Ireland-qualified player.
On 24 October 2018, Addison was named in the Ireland squad for the November Internationals, making his debut for Ireland against Italy.
2. Chris Harris (Scotland)
The Cumbrian centre had a long road from the National League to International rugby. One of those stop-offs was representing England counties. He's now a regular Scotland international!
3. Ross Moriarty (Wales)
15.05.17 - British & Irish Lions Training - Ross Moriarty during training.
Moriarty made his international debut with England Under-18 against France in February 2012. He went on to score tries against Scotland and Wales in his first four appearances and helped England to become European champions in Spain.
He started the first two games for England in the 2013 under-20 Six Nations but was unavailable for the final three matches after being red carded in the match against Ireland in Athlone. He played in every match of the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship and scored three tries against the USA in a pool game.
In the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship Moriarty won the tournament with England with impressive performances throughout the whole tournament.
However, Moriarty made his full international debut in the starting line up for Wales versus Ireland on 8 August 2015 and then went onto play for the British & Irish Lions during their 2017 tour of New Zealand.
4. Jack Cobden (Romania)
The winger started his career at Leicester Tigers. He played for England U16, U18 and U20.
In 2009, he moved to Nottingham RFC, in RFU Championship before joining Romanian SuperLiga side CSM Olimpia Bucureşti in 2013.
Cobden now plays for Romania's national team, the Oaks, after qualifying through residency, making his international debut at the 2017 Rugby Europe Championship in a match against Belgium where he scored two tries with his first two touches.
5. Dave Sisi (Italy)
Germany-born Sisi, 25, who moved from English club Bath to Italian Pro 14 side Zebre in 2017, made 14 appearances for England's youth side between 2012 and 2013.
He then was called up and made his international debut during the 2019 Six Nations. The lock is of Italian descent and qualifies to play for Italy through his grandparents.
6. Kieran Treadwell (Ireland)
Before joining Irish province Ulster ahead of the 2016–17 Pro12 season, Treadwell played for English side Harlequins, having come through their Academy as a youth.
He qualifies for Ireland through his Irish mother and represented the country at Under-18 level, before representing England at Under-20 level.
On 16 May 2017, when Ireland Head Coach Joe Schmidt named his squad for the 2017 Summer Tour, he gave Treadwell his first senior international call-up.
7. Callum Braley (Italy)
Braley, who was also born in Bristol, was an England age group international from U16 level upwards where, selected for England U20s, his team won the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship with a 23-15 win over Wales in the final held at Vannes, France.
He also skippered the successful defence of England U20s Junior World Championship at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship. However, after being approached by Conor O'Shea he switched his allegiance to Italy and went onto represent them at the Rugby World Cup.
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