7 outstanding rugby players who made the grade late

Here are seven stars who the academies missed and who took alternative routes to the top.

The 6ft 3in, 18st 4lb Gloucester star is known for his powerful and muscular ball carrying which puts his team on the front foot.

Morgan’s path to pro rugby has definitely been an unusual one. After starting out with Gloucestershire club Dursley, he crossed the Severn bridge in search of a pro contract after going under the radar of the academies there. Spells with Merthyr and Cardiff Blues U20s followed during which he continued to work as a part-time builder, getting up at 4.30am everyday.

Ben Morgan of England - Photo mandatory by-line: Gareth Davies/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 183700120 - 03/10/2015 - SPORT - RUGBY UNION - RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 - POOL A - England v Australia - Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London, England.[/caption]

In 2009 he was picked up by the Scarlets, who were impressed by his raw potential but concerned by his nearly 21-stone frame. They immediately set about whipping him into shape and a punishing fitness regime saw Morgan drag sleds around Parc y Scarlets and wear weight vests on the running machine, whilst breathing through a snorkel.

He also ditched his builder’s diet: six croissants, a bar of chocolate supplemented with half a pint of milk for breakfast. The demanding fitness regime and new diet had the desired effect, as Morgan lost two and a half stone and shone at regional level for the Scarlets. After a number of months, he eventually quit the building trade and became a full-time pro.

His outstanding form led to Warren Gatland trying to entice him to play for Wales once he qualified on residency grounds but the proud West country man opted for his native England. And since making his debut against Scotland in 2012, he has gone on to pick up 31 caps including two appearances at last’s year’s World Cup.

Legendary players are often sighted from a young age, and they are expected to become great in their entire lives. However, that archetype of success does not apply to Chris Latham, who currently stands as the second highest try scorer in the history of the Australian national rugby team.

Making his professional club debut at 23 with the New South Wales Waratahs, Latham went on to become the Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year on four different occasions while playing for the Queensland Reds.

What’s even more impressive is that Latham has to wait one year after his debut at professional club level to get a chance to play for the Wallabies, but it’s safe to say that the rest is ancient history.

Today, Chris Latham is now regarded as one of the best players in Wallabies history, even if he didn’t start his professional career as a superstar teenage prospect.

Luke Romano is a second-row man currently playing for the All Blacks and Crusaders. However, in 2009 at the age of 23, Romano only dreamed of being a professional rugby player and struggled to even do a chin up.

Considered as a key element of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Championship team, the All Blacks forward made his professional club debut at 25 with the Crusaders. And, besides being an inspiration for aspiring professionals, Romano is an excellent example of loyalty and he still plays for his first pro club today.

Currently second on the Premiership Rugby’s all-time try scorers list, Mark Cueto made his professional debut for Sale Sharks in 2001 at the age of 22. More importantly, he took a hiatus from the sport between the ages of 10 and 17, which is often regarded as a critical stage for aspiring professional athletes.

After just four years as a professional, the England international guided the Sales Shark to a victory over the Leicester Tigers to becoming top-tier champions for the first time in their history.

Rugby is a unique sport, but there are many disciplines usually produce efficient rugby players. One great example is Innokenty Zykov, the Russian ex-wrestler-turned-pro who has started more than 21 games for the Russian side since 2012. Zykov completed his crossover from wrestling at the whopping age of 31 after signing for Russian side Yenisey-STM Rugby Club.

A lance corporal and British Army soldier, Semesa Rokoduguni made his professional debut at the stunning age of 25. Known as Roko, the Fijian-born English international plays for Bath Rugby Club, where he is known for his speed and ability to score awe-inspiring tries.

Another player to break into the scene at 25, John Hayes has appeared in more than 100 international games for Ireland and had a successful 13-year club stint at Munster. Despite the fact that Hayes started playing late in his life, his size and natural skill for the game allowed him to overcome numerous challenges. In 2006, he helped Munster defeat, Toulouse, to win the Heineken European Cup at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.