Players from out of nowhere

Over the weekend I heard it mentioned that Stuart Barnes (I think) had wrote an article stating Mat Hopper (Quins 13) could be the new Conrad Smith. Now to me this seems slightly over the top, although Hopper is a natural talent with ball in hand and seems to have pace to burn, he's only just stepped up to the prem; but it did prove a point i'd been on about, that a player from the Championship (or any other lower league) with the right coaching could be the equal of far more widely rcognised players globally.

Hopper will play for England, i'm in no doubt of it, but this article is less about him and more asking if anyone else can think of players who've been signed out of obscurity by clubs and then suddenly become class?

Sorry mate stopped when you got to Barrel Barnes, blokes a clown.

Very true, he does try his best to ruin a good weekend of rugby with his "commentating". But that could easily be a thread all of it's own...

Yeah sorry yappy off at tangent a bit.

Well for Wales I would say the obvious one is North who had very little experience for the Scarlets (had never played in Europe) before getting Welsh cap.

Likeiwse Lloyd Burns who was playing predominently semi-pro season before last for Cross Keys then due to injuries went to the WC.

Hopper is indeed a talent - schooled in the Chiefs academy, see

Hopper looks a decent player but way way over the top to say any more

Ben Spencer - has come from playing for a Cambridge team last season to being picked for the England U20s and outplaying international quality scrum half Yachvili in a HC game.

Only 19 but a real star in the making.

Lloyd Burns is a great shout, and a really interesting story. Hopper is a good prospect too, absolutely electric with ball in hand and quite a little terrier in defence too.

As a Tigers fan, I'd mention Steve Mafi within this realm- no one had really heard of him before his move the Welford Road, but he's been transformed into a bit of a Tom Croft MKII, just a little more physical.

On the Glaws front Rupert Harden - he was dumped by Newcastle, playing for Tynecastle when he played Cinderord and was "spotted" by Andy Deacon and recommended to Glaws. Which does go to show Cinderford are able to spot some talented players!

On the Hopper front, he's a decent player but I'd question if he's international quality as he's still got along way to go. It will be next season where we can really judge his ability, but I'd rate Lowe far higher.

At the risk of getting totally shot down, I'd have a preference for a Lowe or Hopper style player over a Tuilagi type - heresy, I know, but fortunately selecting the England team isn't a task that's ever likely to fall to me

You a Cinderford fan HKC? Touhy done well from there, along with a few others. What do you think of Roberts, young 10, played for Glos as well, now at Bristol. Also, is it true Ben Morgan got dropped from the Cinderford team for being too fat!

As a Tigers fan, I'd mention Steve Mafi within this realm

Ditto Ed Slater. A nobody originally from Leicestershire playing in Oz after his parents moved. Spotted at the Waratahs academy and brought over on a dual reg with Nottingham and then brought straight into the Tigers first team to cover for injuries.

I suppose both David Strettle and Moritz Botha would come under this category, both plucked from relative obscurity in the lower leagues and have gone on to play international rugby. Likewise Nick Easter?

I do think the premiership clubs should take more notice of the Championship players, there are some real gems who often didnt make an academy for no reason other than they had a late growth spurt or got injured at the wrong time when they were younger.

There have been quite a few north of the border. I'll pick out two.

At Glasgow Mike Cusack was pulled from Doncaster Knights in the summer. I'd never heard of him but was pleasantly surprised to find out that Lineen had acquired a top quality scrummaging tighthead. Not many of those floating around. Cusack has been a revelation for Glasgow, who are sitting 2nd in their HC Pool and in a Rabo 12 playoff position, largely down to the fact that the scrum has shed it's permanent reverse gear this season. His workrate is on the sluggish side (think Adam Jones in his early days), but he does a great job in the set piece.

The revelation for Edinburgh this season for me is Grant Gilchrist. A 20 year old 6ft 7 lock north of 18 stone. Came from Stirling County RFC and I believe was on a scholarship to train in New Zealand over the summer. With Turnbull, Cox and Lozada in the squad he wasn't expected to start much this season. Anyone who has seen even the highlights of the Racing Metro game on Friday will have seen a 20 year old enforcer wearing the 4 jersey standing toe to toe with an enormous Racing Metro pack. The number 4 jersey is his. He will make the 6 Nations squad next season, and possibly the summer tour.

Toulouse plucked that winger from a lower league who is playing a blinder this year, name escapes me (though maybe I just don't want to try and spell it).

from a scarlets perspective:

We picked up Ben Morgan from Merthyr RFC in Divison 1 East. Also in the same season we picked up Andy Fenby who played for Blaydon before making 3 appearances for Newcastle.

Other than that Dragons signing Joe Bearman from the Cornish Pirates?

Maybe I was being a little forward with Hopper but tbh I am just amazed at his play since stepping up into the 13 shirt. Thank you Pirates (and Chiefs!).

Saracens SH is a good shout too, he looked very composed on the weekend.

Most of the Exeter team , especially Tom Johnson, Tommy Hayes and Richie Baxter, although I'd challenge the idea that Championship level is "obscurity".

Btw, I don't think Matt Hopper ever made the Exeter/SW academy (although Ben Spencer did) - pretty sure he played Juniors/Colts, and it was Graham Dawe at Albion that picked him up after his sojourn in Oz, before he moved over the border to Pirates.

Ach, why let the facts get in the way of a good story, DLO?!

Conor Murray went from 4th string Musnter scrum half last January to starting RWC scrum half.

Facts are significantly over-rated

Thought about James Hanks as a plucked-out-of-obscurity player. Rarely flash on the pitch, but a good grafter - waddya think?

Bathite wrote:You a Cinderford fan HKC? Touhy done well from there, along with a few others. What do you think of Roberts, young 10, played for Glos as well, now at Bristol. Also, is it true Ben Morgan got dropped from the Cinderford team for being too fat!

Not a fan per se but I do take keen interest in them due to the close link with Glaws. As far as I understand Morgan was overweight and not fit enough.

I didn't ever see enough of Tristan Roberts, but I was surprised we let him go as he seemed to have his plaudits. It sounds like he's doing alright at the moment.

Dubbelyew L Overate wrote:Facts are significantly over-rated

Thought about James Hanks as a plucked-out-of-obscurity player. Rarely flash on the pitch, but a good grafter - waddya think?

Totally agree, and a lovely bloke of it - it's noticeable how much better the Exe lineout goes when he is playing

How about Budgey?!

Newcastle have a link with many of the local clubs...particularly Blaydon and Tynedale...James Fitzpatrick came from Blaydon and doing very well at 12 for us....but there have been many others...from the likes of South Shields etc..like Dave Wilson...

Got a couple at Ulster. Adam D'Arcy and Tom Court

D'Arcy - Playing minor league rugby in sydney 18 months ago and now could well be lining up in front of 35,000 Frenchmen in a crunch HC decider this coming weekend.

Court - Australian shot putter to Irish Rugby International inside 3 years.

Tom Croft was with Newbury RFC before Leicester.

Duncan McRae, he of "let's pummel the bejaysus out of ROG" infamy, was a barman on holiday in London before Saracens picked him.

Derwen Jones was working as a giraffe at Longleat.

Rolfs_Cartoon_Club wrote:Tom Croft was with Newbury RFC before Leicester.

Duncan McRae, he of "let's pummel the bejaysus out of ROG" infamy, was a barman on holiday in London before Saracens picked him.

Derwen Jones was working as a giraffe at Longleat.

A Giraffe would have been a better rugby player....

Cannot disagree with that, Geordie. Dreadful player.