Lock: Nick Isiekwe (18y 212d)
Saracens (vs Northampton Saints, 16 Apr 2017)
Isiekwe, a member of the Saracens Academy structure,[3] was trialed at many positions including Prop, Number 8, Flanker and Centre, but his six foot six stature saw him physically outgrow his original positions and moved to second row. He’s since made his Saracens and England debut, making up one of the best young players in World Rugby.
Lock: Tom Ryder (18y 361d)
Leicester Tigers (vs Saracens, 21 Sep 2003)
After only making three appearances in the Zurich Premiership for Leicester Tigers, he left to join Saracens still aged 20. He then went onto have stints with Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints and Yorkshire Carnegie before hanging up his boots in 2016. Ryder had captained England at under-16 and under-19 levels, as well as playing at under-18 before winning two caps for Scotland in 2012.
Flanker: Calum Clark (18y 112d)
Yorkshire Carnegie (vs Saracens, 30 Sep 2007)
Educated at Barnard Castle School in County Durham, he made his Premiership debut as a teenager for Leeds Carnegie, now known at Yorkshire Carnegie.
He has featured for his country at age group level, playing for England U18’s up to U20’s. He progressed to senior International rugby in 2014, captaining England Saxons against the Irish Wolfhounds, as well as being included in the Elite training squad, making a full debut against France in the Rugby World Cup 2015 warm-up match against France.
He joined Saracens from Premiership rivals Northampton Saints, bringing great experience with him, as he has made over 100 appearances for the East Midlands outfit- including the 2010/11 European Cup final and knock out stages of the Premiership Rugby competition.
Flanker: James Haskell (18y 164d)
Wasps (vs Harlequins, 13 Sep 2003)
The flanker was a part of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Premiership title-winning seasons with Wasps, as well as also winning the 2004 and 2007 Champions Cup competitions.
On his return to England in 2012, following stints in Japan, New Zealand and France, Haskell quickly racked up another century of appearances for Wasps and featured in the 2017 Premiership Rugby final.
But Haskell has also excelled at international level for over a decade, earning over 75 caps for England and getting called up to the 2017 British & Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand – playing against a Hurricanes side that was then led by Saints’ director of rugby Chris Boyd.
He most recently joined Northampton Saints in the summer after being released by Wasps.
Number 8: Billy Vunipola (18y 158d)
Wasps (vs Bath Rugby, 23 Apr 2011)
Viliami Vunipola, known by his nickname Billy, has grown into one of the world’s most talented and respected rugby players, and is characterized by his ability to bulldoze through the opposition defensive line and his physicality.
Winning a scholarship to attend the prestigious Harrow School, Billy progressed to the Wasps Academy, where he made 30 appearances over two seasons with the club, before making the move to Saracens for the beginning of the 2013/14 campaign.
He’s since won multiple Premiership and Champions Cup titles while also becoming a key player for England.