Modern rugby revolves around young players. Year after year we talk about teenage sensations who catch the eyes of big clubs and sign big-money contracts, who we hope will lead the sport's next generation.
While many of these wonderkids turn into global superstars, sometimes young players are not ready to carry the burden of the lofty expectations we put on them, and do not pan out as well.
In a time where we are all busily fixated on the next best thing in rugby, here we take a look at players touted to be just that who did not find such a fate...
1. Matthew Tait
Making his debut against Wales, when the then-18-year-old was repeatedly dumped (see video below) by Welsh centre Gavin Henson is infamous.
Cardiff in February 2005 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, then he is still to realise his potential. Shifts from outside centre, to wing and then to full-back stunted his progress and were indicative of a possible star who didn’t quite fit the mould in any rugby union position. Perhaps he should have stayed with rugby sevens.
2. Gavin Henson
The man who tackled Tait. Despite two Six Nations winner’s medals, Henson falls firmly into the category of those that failed to fulfill their potential.
But despite his love for hobnobbing with C-list celebrities, appearing on reality TV shows and 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.
3. Ben Atiga
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.
4. Olly Barkley
Barkley won 23 caps for England between 2001 and 2008, and such was his early reputation that he featured for England before his club debut with Bath.
A graceful left-footer able to play at fly-half or inside-centre, Barkley should have been a mainstay in the England midfield after the retirement of Will Greenwood.
The strange thing about Barkley is that it is hard to say where it all went wrong. He is not blessed with great pace, but kicked well from the tee and out of hand, was a fine distributor and hardly a defensive weakness. He remains one of the biggest mysteries of English rugby from the 2000s.
5. Ataata Moeakiola (Japan)
After being nominated for Breakthrough player of the year in 2016; he won three caps for the Brave Blossoms the same year, scoring three tries, and was labelled the 'Japanese Jonah Lomu'. The 24-year-old nevertheless hasn't played for Japan since and has struggled to make an impression for the Sunwolves in Super Rugby.
