The Telegraph ranked England’s five worst players this summer, shock name features - Page 4 of 4 - Ruck

The Telegraph ranked England’s five worst players this summer, shock name features

Tom Curry 5/10

Curry became the youngest player to start an international for England in 90 years when he made his senior debut five days before his 19th birthday in Argentina on the 2017 summer tour.

Tom and Ben both studied at Oundle School – where the master in charge of rugby was their uncle and former England international John Olver. The Sale Sharks flanker had a breakthrough season in 2016/17 and made his Twickenham bow in an uncapped game against the Barbarians in May 2017, after twin brother Ben had withdrawn because of a back spasm.

The following month Tom appeared in the first Test against Argentina in San Juan – only Jonny Wilkinson has been a younger Test debutant for England. He started every game of the 2019 Six Nations, scoring tries against Wales and Scotland and was part of the England squad that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. His performances across that year saw him nominated for the World Rugby player of the year.

They wrote: “Part of a really disappointing England replacement crew who failed to make an impact in the All Blacks series.”

Will Stuart 4/10

Educated at Farleigh School in Andover and Radley College, Oxfordshire, London-born Will Stuart began playing the game at the age of eight at school and at Salisbury RFC.

Stuart has represented England at age grade level, featuring in the side that defeated Ireland in the final of the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship. He earned a first call up to the senior side in 2020 and made his debut as a replacement for Kyle Sinckler in the opening round of the Six Nations. His first start came in November the same year, in England’s Autumn Nations Cup fixture against Georgia. 

They wrote: “Ethan De Groot’s angles may have been suspect but ultimately he ended up face down a lot of the time in New Zealand. With 40 caps, he is hardly a rookie learning his trade at the coal face.”