The 10 most promising Rugby Europe Youngsters of 2022
Find out who are the boys who made the list
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2022 was a good year for European youth rugby, with a couple of players deserving to be remembered for what they did in their National teams across the Rugby Europe U18 and U20 competitions, which saw Georgia and Spain retaining their crowns.
There are more than 25 players that could’ve landed a place on this list, but I ended up picking only 10, which doesn’t mean we aren’t going to revisit the other 15 in the near future.
Who could’ve made the cut for you?
TEUN KARST
Country: Netherlands
Position: Lock
Competition: U20
Club: CA Brive (France)
One of the best youngsters developed by Dutch rugby in the last couple of years, Teun Krast has shown his potential for CA Brive (Top14) Éspoirs, presenting himself as a commanding presence, a trustworthy tackler, and a devoted set-piece worker. In 2022, Karst was one of the main standouts for Netherlands, helping the Orange side to reach the Rugby Europe U20 championship for the first time ever, completing more than 25 tackles, and was also able to land four turnovers, two of them key for their win against Portugal in the semifinal.
LUKA KHORBALADZE
Country: Georgia
Position: Wing/Fullback
Competition: U18
Club: Lelo (Georgia)
A flaming hot stepper, Luka Khorbaladze was one of the MVPs of the Rugby Europe U18 Championship, helping Georgia to win their third consecutive title in this age grade. He can play either on the wing or as a fullback, making good use of his kicking and speed abilities, slicing the opposition's defense with ease, and having some of the same details shown by his seniors, like Akaki Tabutsadze or Davit Niniashvili. If he keeps on this path, he is poised to become a Lelos.
MATEUS FERREIRA
Country: Portugal
Position: Nº8
Competition: U18
Club: GD Direito (Portugal)
One of the roughest and toughest forwards of the European “Tier 2” teams, Mateus Ferreira knows how to make good use of his well-developed physicality, be it by powering through the opposition lines thanks to strong carries, or applying dominant tackles. The Portuguese U18 captain is the classical enforcer, that sometimes goes a little overboard on the “shrugs” department. A tenacious unit that keeps working hard until the whistle is blown.
JEREMY TREVITHICK
Country: Spain
Position: Fullback
Competition: U20
Club: CA Brive (France)
A flamboyant back, Jeremy Trevithick knows how to step, and turn up the pace in a blink of an eye, dancing through and leaving his tacklers in the ground. It's almost like seeing flamenco with a mouthguard, adorning each running line with a vibrant vibe, which has helped Spain in 2021 and 2022 to reach the U20 Championship title. In this year’s tournament, the fullback ran more than 130 meters, accumulating three clean breaks, two tries, and ten defenders beaten. He is poised to be one of the next Big Things in the Leones rugby.
ALIN CONACHE
Country: Romania
Position: Scrum-half
Competition: U20
Club: SCM Timișoara (Romania) / Romanian Wolves
A smart and inventive halfback, Alin Conache is already punching holes in Romanian rugby, as at the age of 19 he is already considered a first-team player in SCM Timisoara, and has started a couple of games for the Romanian Wolves (Super Cup franchise). With excellent kicking ability, well-crafted passing skills, and always with a good approach around the ruck, the U20 Romanian international keep his side alive and is able to fight. In the RE U20 Championship and the 2022 Super Cup, Alin Conache scored one try, made three assists, and three line-breaks, completed 92% of his passes, and assisted for teammates' clean breaks seven times.
GUIDO REYES
Country: Spain
Position: Prop
Competition: U18
Club: Séction Pauloise
A battering ram equipped with roller blades, have you seen anything of the sort in your life? Well, that’s the best way to describe Guido Reyes, Spain’s U18 tighthead prop. He can deal a ton of damage in the scrum, especially if the opposition can’t lock a tight grip from the first engagement, but his “mystic” powers don’t end in the 8 vs 8 battle, as he is also a relentless worker in the breakdown, and is quick enough to be a menace in open-play. His skills at the U18 level were one of the reasons why Spain was almost able to beat Portugal in the semifinal, and he will be a spicy addition to the U20s in 2023.
LUCA DEPLECHIN
Country: Belgium
Position: Prop
Competition: U20
Club: Rugby Ottignies Club (Belgium) / Brussels Devils
Another promising tighthead prop, Lucas Deplechin is a hard hitter and a very effective scrummager, embracing well his role in the set piece, while also showing some interesting handling skills. In 2022, he debuted for the Belgium union Super Cup franchise, the Brussels Devils, while also earning a good amount of first-team starts in his local club, and was all due to that sheer thumping power he applies at every scrum, maul, pick-and-go, lineout or carry. In the RE U20 Championship, the prop was pivotal for Belgium to win seven scrum penalties against the likes of Spain and Portugal, showcasing a surprising knowledge in this set-piece for such a young player.
GONÇALO COSTA
Country: Portugal
Position: Fullback
Competition: U20
Club: Birmingham Moseley Rugby
Suppose you are fond of the likes of Nuno Sousa Guedes, Rodrigo Marta, Manuel C. Pinto, Raffaele Storti, or Jorge Abecassis due to their vast skillset. In that case, you should start to follow Gonçalo Costa closely, as he is certainly on his way to be one of the new “trickers” for Portugal. The fullback fired up in the RE U20 Championship, as he ran more than one hundred and fifty meters, forcing six clean breaks, which helped Portugal score a handful of tries, in what was a disappointing tournament for the Portuguese side. It’s also important to add his kicking game, as it is a serious weapon that can either create opportunities for his side or produce errors and mistakes on the opposite team.
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THYMOTHEUS PETERS
Country: Netherlands
Position: Prop
Competition: U20
Club: USAP (France)
Thymotheus Peters was just a brutal scrummaging machine for Netherlands in the RE U20 Championship run and will be one of his country's main props in years to come. More resistant than an anvil, the tighthead is also an agile unit that loves to have a go at the breakdown, powering through the axis of the ruck to create instability for his adversaries. Relentless and unwavering, the USA Perpignan Éspoir is growing each new season and has the means and qualities to become a super forward.
NIKA LOMIDZE
Country: Georgia
Position: Flanker/Lock
Competition: U18
Club: Bulls (Georgia)
Nika Lomidze isn’t the type of loose forward that shows up in spectacular form, as he is more concerned about what we call the work without the ball, fighting insatiably to keep his team’s breakdown tidy, locking and taking down potential speedsters, and a quick exit after the scrum, closing down any possible gaps. He is an openside flanker honed with a fine and well-worked jackal and tackling skills, amassing a total of four turnovers in the 2022 RE U18 Championship, creating a huge ordeal for Portugal in the final, as he stole the egg in crucial moments for the Portuguese side. Yes, he can carry well, but for him, it is all about helping his team dominate, be it possession or territory.