Newcastle Falcons second-row Calum Green thinks the current England pathway for young English players to go on and play for the senior team is a realistic one.
Green, who has played for England U16’s and U20’s and finished fourth at the U20 Junior World Cup in 2010, hasn’t got one to play for the senior team yet.
Despite this, Green believes that the current second-rows in the England squad are the right ones, in Kruis, Itoje, Lawes and Lauchbury.
Many of England’s first team players have come through the youth ranks, with the likes of Owen Farrell, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje, George Ford, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph and Jack Nowell all progressing from the youth system.
England seem to have got the pathway right with the first team, with the squad currently World Number 2’s, current Grand Slam Champions and have won a record 17 games in a row.
Currently, England Rugby continue to create pathways to keep players hungry, with Green himself an example. Despite not featuring for the senior side yet, he has been a key part of the Falcons climb up the Aviva Premiership this season, and has hopes of a call up in the near future.
Falcons, who are currently 8th in the Aviva Premiership, will be hoping for a few England selections if they carry on performing the way they have this season.
Listen to Calum Green below on what he thinks of the current England U16, U18 and U20 pathway to the England senior team.