Junior stars - shining brightly or white dwarf?

2010 - IRB Junior Player of the Year: Julian Savea (New Zealand)
2009 - IRB Junior Player of the Year: Aaron Cruden (New Zealand)
2008 - IRB Junior Player of the Year: Luke Braid (New Zealand)
2007 - IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Robert Fruean (New Zealand)
2006 - IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Josh Holmes (Australia)
2006 - IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Lionel Beauxis (France)
2005 - IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Isaia Toeava (New Zealand)
2005 - IRB International U21 Player of the Year: Tatafu Polota-Nau (Australia)
2004 - IRB International U19 Player of the Year: Jeremy Thrush (New Zealand)
2004 - IRB International U21 Player of the Year in association with Waterford Crystal: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
2003 - IRB U19 Player of the Year: Jean-Baptiste Peyras (France)
2003 - IRB U21 Player of the Year in assoc. with Waterford Crystal: Ben Atiga (New Zealand)
2002 - IRB U19 Player of the Year: Luke McAlister (New Zealand)
2002 - IRB U21 Player of the Year, in assoc. with Waterford: Pat Barnard (South Africa)
2001 - IRB Young Player of the Year: Gavin Henson (Wales)

This year's nominations are Sam Cane, George Ford & Luke Whitelock

I think there is a big step up from the U20 World Cup and senior international rugby and a lot happens between 19 and 23 which is generally the years you move our of academy rugby and into first team rugby.

The story of the Hook family is a good example. Growing up through the age groups a young player with the surname Hook was tipped to be a mega star of Welsh rugby, his family and his region has massive hopes for him, but it wasn't James Hook it was Mike Hook! His older brother and still only 28.
Mike was the reason why Gavin Henson didn't get a look in for Welsh age group rugby. Despite being amazing in age group rugby he never quite made it as a professional, and drifted down the divisions before retiring early from injury and is now the Pontypool defence coach.
James on the other hand was talented but wasn't really thought of as a future international star and yet has become a World Class player and is now on his way to France on a massive contract!

Dedication, luck with injuries and many other factors play a part and being talented at U20 level doesnt equate to being a future star of the game.
If 4 players make it from a Under20 team to full professionals who are in the National squad as adults you have done very well.

To be fair to Beauxis, it's not his fault Marc Lievremont is coaching France.

Jeremy Thrush

I would have thought Anscombe was more worthy of the 2011 than the three nominated.

A good percentage of those nominations are Baby Blacks and (I hope I’m not stating the obvious here) it is a lot more difficult to make the step up to the full All Blacks squad.

How about this guy in a few years time. You have to love schoolboy rugby. http://www.skysport.co.nz/video/rugby-union/rugby-centre/the-new-lomu-45543/

"I think there is a big step up from the U20 World Cup and senior international rugby and a lot happens between 19 and 23 "

Of the 9 NZers in the list 3 have gone on to be very good AB's. Cruden is recently one, Fruean will defintely be one and Luke Braid, Savea are yet to prove themselves at superxv to be good enough.

Thrush is the only one not to go on so there is a lot of truth in this. Some develop faster than others and some might have just been the wrong pick due to timing. Guilford has moved o faster than those of his year.

Kaino has finally made it. I guess it took him 5/6 years.

Why wasn't Owen Farrell nominated?

Admittedly I think he will console himself with an Aviva Premiership Champions medal and being starting fly half for currently the best side in England but still....

George Ford not even getting close to being in his club team's side puts things into perspective.

Some of them like McAllister, Beauxis and Toeava have shone hot and cold. Frueuen looks to be emerging and capitalising on his talent. Kaino has probably been the biggest success story from that list. Henson is all could have, would have, should have.