English rugby union bosses are considering a “rookie league” that could be introduced at under-20 level as soon as next season, with new data reinforcing the belief that the best youngsters in the country are still not playing enough.
Figures seen by Telegraph Sport show that the 50 members of the England Under-20 elite player squad (EPS), had averaged just over seven full-game equivalents in all competitions between the beginning of the current season in September and the second round of the Under-20 Six Nations last Friday.
This accounts for British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competitions, as well as game time on loan further down the league pyramid in the Championship, National One and National Two. Premiership, Premiership Rugby Cup, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup fixtures have also been monitored, along with age-grade internationals.
While some prospects have been fast-tracked, there remains a collective concern across the English game that the “best of the best” between the ages of 18 and 20 are not being exposed to enough matches at an appropriate level.
Henry Pollock, for instance, has made eight Premiership appearances over the 2024-25 campaign so far, as well as four more in the Champions Cup, two in the Premiership Cup and one for England A, as well as two Under-20 outings in the Six Nations.
Before an 80-minute showing for England against France at the Rec last Friday, he had already accumulated 893 minutes, or just over 11 full-game equivalents.
However, opportunities have been far rarer for other members of the Under-20 EPS. This is despite a push from clubs and the Rugby Football Union to promote a talented crop, some of whom helped to win the Under-20 World Championship last year, towards the senior ranks and launch individual development plans for 50 EPS members.
The competition offering for all academy players is being reviewed but there is a focus on a “very specific demographic”. It is thought that around 20 full-game equivalents per season, or around 1,600 minutes, is ideal for a player in this bracket.
“There will always be ‘unicorns’ that rise up the ranks seamlessly,” said Neil McCarthy, the head of player development at Premiership Rugby. “This is not necessarily about catering for those players, but creating something that will provide for the majority of the players in the immediate post-18 period, which is an important age group.”
There are challenges within the England rugby landscape because of the locations of clubs in relation to regional club academies. The fragmented nature of player development in England has been a challenge for all Premiership clubs in providing the right opportunity for the right player at the right time.
Currently, some Premiership clubs lean on their links with BUCS teams to give their youngsters matches. Others loan out players to the second, third and fourth tiers. Such arrangements can mean that players train with two different squads on the same day and need to travel considerable distances to represent their loan club.
New competition could be launched next season
It is understood a rookie league would not replace the Premiership Rugby Cup, which has traditionally featured older players on the fringe of first-team squads depending on how clubs use that competition.
A review process is ongoing, but it appears as though the rookie league would be capped at under-20 level and bringing it in for the 2025-26 season was described as “not off the table”.
It would follow a similar format to the existing under-18 academy league, which is staging its finals day this weekend at Kingsholm, with Northampton Saints facing Bath in the decider.
The under-18 academy league has become an important pillar of player development in England and the hope is that an under-20 competition could mirror that success, perhaps with eight league matches for each of the 10 clubs before a semi-final and a final.
There has also been success with live-streaming the under-18 academy finals day, with a total audience last year of 76,000 and a peak of more than 6,300 concurrent viewers on YouTube.
It would be an ambition for the under-20 rookie league to be broadcast and staging a finals day late in the season could build intrigue for England’s selection ahead of the Under-20 World Championship, too.
While some have questioned the capacity to resource another competition, Premiership insiders are confident that there would be enough players for a 10-team competition and that challenges revolving around travel and staffing could be met.
