Joe Simmonds, the former England wonderkid, made his exit from Exeter Chiefs this summer to join the Top 14 league.
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Reflecting on Simmonds in 2020, McGeechan had this to say in the Telegraph: “Probably the closest of the English players on this list to an international call-up. Simmonds has quietly become an excellent fly-half with consistently good decision-making and plays well under pressure.
“His kicking is incredibly accurate – there was a stage before Christmas when he was 26/26 in all competitions – and he has a great coaching group around him, with Rob Baxter and Ali Hepher, who I know well and really rate from our Northampton days.”
However, now aged 26, and with a move to Pau agreed this summer, it seems very unlikely at this stage that Simmonds will ever win a place on the international team.
Having captained Exeter to a Premiership and Champions Cup double a few years ago, there’s probably an argument to suggest he’s one of the best players to never win a cap.
That double triumph was rewarded on an even higher scale when Joe Simmonds was given an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.
Sir Ian McGeechan ranks his 5 best young players in the world, 2020
5#. Cameron Redpath, 21, Scotland
