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#Post#: 153130--------------------------------------------------
Back three players
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: April 20, 2026, 5:04 am
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I've been thinking recently about how weak we are in the back
three and realised on Saturday that the only proven back three
player we've produced, and kept, over the last several years is
Murley.
Cleaves has always looked very promising but has never had any
sort of run due to injuries. Lynagh is probably next best after
Murley. Then who else, not including centres who can fill in on
the wing (eg. Beard)?
Slevin is promising but that's all, plus we don't know if he's
considered more of a fly half. Bellamy would have been playing
but for his current injury, but he's unproven and came into the
academy as a fly half.
You would have thought that with 3 back three positions in a
team we'd have more to show from the last 8 years of the
academy. It's pretty disgraceful really.
#Post#: 153132--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: April 20, 2026, 5:34 am
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Full back in particular, we haven't produced really anyone worth
mentioning there since Brown!
Sean Sharpe was mentioned in dispatches but has been injured.
#Post#: 153137--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: dispatchesfromthestoop
Date: April 20, 2026, 6:54 am
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I think you're right, we had the stalwarts (Brown, Monye, Tom
Williams) for many years, but it has been inconsistent since
then outside of Cadan.
Tyrone has been at the club a long time so I suppose it isn't
fair to chuck him into that group, he's just had a tough run.
But it is definitely the area that we haven't had a production
line for. There were a couple of promising youngsters that
didn't work out despite really high hopes (Roma Zheng was one I
remember, and Jonas Mikalcius who scored something ridiculous
like 60 in 50 whilst in Nat 1 before having a major injury for
us).
I'm a big fan of Josh Bellamy, but as you say, it's unsure as to
whether he's a fly half at fullback, or the reverse (it worked
out ok for Damien McKenzie I suppose!)
#Post#: 153141--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 20, 2026, 11:27 am
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Ibitoye eventually became a legitimately good winger, long after
leaving us.
I think these things are likely to happen, though. We simply
don't have a big enough intake of academy players each year to
realistically expect quality in every position on a regular
basis. We've produced a heap of excellent props, one excellent
hooker, a surfeit of flankers, a quality scrum half (after
nothing for a very, very long time), several flyhalves, etc.
Is it that different to, say, Bath, the reigning champions? Tom
de Glanville is the only one and he's not yet international
class. Arundell, Cokanasiga, Muir, Carreras were all signed from
elsewhere and I can't think of many Bath back 3 alumni that have
been tearing it up elsewhere.
#Post#: 153144--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: April 20, 2026, 1:56 pm
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We've usually had promising back three players who then never
become regulars or fade away after a few years. The following
had varying degrees of success / longevity. Sam smith, stegman,
amesbury, walker, mantella, aspland-robinson. There's another
whose name I can't remember.
The pipeline does seem to have dropped off.
Lynagh and ibitoye still playing at the top level, just not for
us
Cleaves I fear will turn out to be another who never quite made
it
#Post#: 153151--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: noah_jo
Date: April 21, 2026, 2:39 am
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If Sharpe can get back from his injury, he could be really
really good.
Arguably on par with Caluori in the academy league last year
#Post#: 153154--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 21, 2026, 3:28 am
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Cleaves needs different coaches (and a different S&C team,
probably). He strikes me as the sort of player who tears it up
in Super Rugby.
#Post#: 153155--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: dawson9
Date: April 21, 2026, 3:32 am
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From watching a lot of these kids at Scottish - agree with some
of the comments above on them.
Bellamy is a special talent and has that touch of magic about
him. Reminds me a lot of Cipriani when he first came through at
Wasps, will prob be a 10 long term but 15 seems perfect for him
at this stage at his development and gives him more room to use
his skillset/flair in space and from deep.
Cleaves is obviously very talented but never seemed to care much
in a LS shirt - the workrate was never there. A lot of flash and
not much substance for me. Hyde looks like hes being released by
you guys to go to Ealing and although probably not as naturally
talented as Cleaves always had twice the workrate and effort.
Surprised he never seems to have got a shot with you.
Zheng was never going to make it - again a decent little player
and scored some good tries but is a level below your others. Not
consistently starting for Worcester in the champ now shows hes
found his level, and at 24 probably wont progress much further
imo
#Post#: 153157--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 21, 2026, 5:28 am
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Cass has raw pace and electric acceleration. I fear he may rely
upon that as I concur with the comment that his workmate seems
lacking.
Lynahh is the one that got away IMO. And Cadan... would tear it
up in any club. We're lucky to have him.
#Post#: 153158--------------------------------------------------
Re: Back three players
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: April 21, 2026, 5:31 am
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Do you think his pace is that high? Acceleration yes, and his
step / swerve is dangerous, but I don't know if he's all that
quick.
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