ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Monday Feb 17, 2020

Impressive starting XV of players who have come through the Championship

The Championship has received a lot of attention over the past few days after the Rugby Football Union’s decision to cut its funding of the league by almost half. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Since then, a host of players, chairmen and pundits have commented on how damaging this could be for England, the Gallagher Premiership and the league itself. 

The majority of current England players have had stints in the Championship, as it is a preferred option of Premiership teams to loan players to the division below. However, there are also many that have risen through the ranks at Championship clubs, and used that as a platform for their careers.  

So here is an XV of players who came from Championship teams: 

1 Mako Vunipola- Bristol 

Before being signed by Saracens, the England, and British and Irish Lions loosehead Mako Vunipola came through Bristol, playing in the playoff loss to Exeter Chiefs in 2010. 

2 Dave Ward- Cornish Pirates

ADVERTISEMENT

While Harlequins’ Dave Ward did not come through Cornish Pirates, having previously played for Bath, Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks, it was his three years in Penzance that attracted the attention of Harlequins. He arrived at the Stoop in 2012 and has been a great servant to the club ever since. 

3 Thomas Francis- Doncaster Knights 

The Wales international and current Exeter Chiefs prop Thomas Francis was born in Yorkshire and played for Doncaster Knights and London Scottish before being snapped up by Rob Baxter at Exeter in 2014. Honorary mention: Ben Alexander- Bedford Blues. 

4 Danny Grewcock- Coventry

ADVERTISEMENT

Before a distinguished career with Saracens, Bath, England, and the British and Irish Lions, Rugby World Cup winning lock Danny Grewcock spent three years in the Championship (then National One) with Coventry. 

5 Mouritz Botha- Bedford Blues

The South African born England international Mouritz Botha started his career in England with Bedford Blues before moving to Saracens in 2009. 

6 Colin Charvis- London Welsh

One of many Wales greats to play in the English capital with London Welsh, the Birmingham born Colin Charvis started his career there in the 90s before moving to Swansea and later becoming Wales captain. 

7 Akapusi Qera- Birmingham & Solihull 

One of Gloucester’s great flankers this millenium, the former Fiji captain Akapusi Qera spent a season with Birmingham & Solihull (then Pertemps Bees) before moving to Kingsholm and later Toulouse. 

8 Nick Easter- Orrell 

The Manchester club Orrell were a feature of the Championship during the 90s and early 2000s, even finishing second in 2004. Off the back of that season, their No8 Nick Easter was spotted by Harlequins and made the move up to the Premiership.  

9 Danny Care- Otley 

Although England and Harlequins scrum half Danny Care never strictly played in the Championship with Otley, having moved to fellow Yorkshire outfit Leeds, he did play for the club in his youth. 

10 Gareth Steenson- Exeter Chiefs

Now a mainstay in the Premiership (and the fifth all time points scorer), Gareth Steenson was part of Exeter back in their Championship days and has been with them through all their glory. Seven years before Steenson kicked the winning penalty in the Premiership final, he kicked 24 points in the 2010 playoff second-leg against Bristol to secure promotion. 

11 Joe Cokanasiga- London Irish

Now in his second season at Bath, the 22-year-old giant Joe Cokanasiga first announced himself in the Championship with London Irish, and a barnstorming 2016/17 saw him selected for Eddie Jones’ England team to tour Argentina. 

12 Tom Shanklin- London Welsh

The 70-cap former Wales centre Tom Shanklin began his career with London Welsh before moving to Saracens and then Cardiff Blues. 

13 Chris Wyles- Nottingham

The former USA captain Chris Wyles began his professional career with Nottingham before moving to Northampton Saints and then Saracens in 2008, where he became a four-time Premiership winner and two-time Champions Cup winner. 

14 Sean Lamont- Rotherham

The 105-cap Scotland great Sean Lamont was a Rotherham player in the early 2000s, spending three years in Yorkshire before a move to Glasgow, where his career blossomed. 

15 David Strettle- Rotherham

A benefit of Harlequins being relegated in 2005, was that the London club were exposed to some of the talent in the league below. After impressing for Rotherham that season, the future England winger David Strettle was signed by Harlequins after they earned promotion. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

Related Articles

  • 42 WEEKS AGO

    Why one rugby star is already being tipped...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    South African Kurt-Lee Arendse receives limited...

  • 43 WEEKS AGO

    Fans outraged by the same thing during Argentina...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 23 HOURS AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

View All