The names to look out for from the Irish, Italian, Scottish, South African and Welsh teams
United Rugby Championship Players to Watch 2022-23
The United Rugby Championship is back this weekend and we’ve highlighted players to watch at each of the 16 clubs involved.
And don’t miss the in-depth team guides in Rugby World’s start-of-season special 2022-23.
United Rugby Championship Players to Watch 2022-23
Benetton
Alessandro Garbisi has all the skills and, it seems, the right attitude to form an Azzurri half-back partnership with his older brother Paolo for the next decade.
cap
try
????'? ????, Alessandro #Garbisi? #ROMvITA #Italrugby#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/szMBbXYemV
— Italrugby (@Federugby) July 1, 2022
The scrum-half, 20, is lightning fast and makes consistently good decisions.
Bulls
Kurt-Lee Arendse lit up the URC last season with his penetrative running from broken field. He will be given more responsibility at the Bulls in the coming months.
That is just class from Kurt-Lee Arendse ?
?️ @URCOfficial | @BlueBullsRugby pic.twitter.com/iLxPALMi7g
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) March 29, 2022
Cardiff
Wing Theo Cabango made his presence felt when scoring two tries against Glasgow in March. He’s quick and dynamic and only 20. A player to keep an eye on.
Let it be said, @Cardiff_Rugby have come to play! ?
Theo Cabango from inside his own half, finished with a magnificent step! ?
What a showing we're seeing here at The Stoop!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ei7RAAJpkw
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 18, 2021
Connacht
Cian Prendergast, the young flanker. Everybody’s already watching him, including Andy Farrell.
A brilliant try from Cian Prendergast for Connacht in their vital win away to Benetton.
The 22-year-old just goes from strength to strength. pic.twitter.com/uFbkl2YeSN
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) April 4, 2022
Dragons
The 21-year-old lock Ben Carter. Wayne Pivac has compared him to Alun Wyn Jones.
? ???-?????? | Day one of our pre-season Training Camp in Dublin ??Complete
Plus great to see our internationals return to camp this week, welcome ? Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Ben Carter & Aki Seiuli! ?#WeAreGwentRugby pic.twitter.com/QwxAi4oivg
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) August 22, 2022
Edinburgh
Emiliano Boffelli broke Scotland hearts with the last-gasp try that saw the Pumas pinch the summer series.
WHAT A FINISH, WHAT A COMEBACK! ?
HEARTBREAK for Scotland as Argentina score a TRY right at the end of the match! ?
FT: ?? 34-31 ???????#ARGvSCO pic.twitter.com/bgGyHoFjs0
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 16, 2022
However, Edinburgh fans will again clutch the Argentina wing/full-back to their bosom, thanks to his excellence under the high ball, ability on the charge and near-faultless place-kicking.
Glasgow Warriors
Huw Jones had a weird time of it first time round in Glasgow and returns north bidding to regain the rapier-like form that made him one of the most highly-rated backs in Europe.
??
??????? From playing University rugby in South Africa, all the way to representing @ScotlandTeam@HRFJones shares more about his remarkable journey on the latest episode of #TheOpenSide pic.twitter.com/dAkj2EDvsc
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 15, 2022
Earning selection for France 2023 will be a big driver for Jones this year.
Leinster
Ciarán Frawley was terrific at ten for Ireland against the Maori on tour. Can he get more game time there with Leinster given Johnny Sexton and the Byrnes, Ross and Harry, are competition?
He also plays 12. You just hope he gets a run in the team as he’s a hell of a talent.
? 'Frawley has been given the opportunity, and looks as though he's taking it'
Ciaran Frawley might have already been earmarked for a Leinster 10 shirt, and Brian O'Driscoll is looking forward to see him progress there | ?@VodafoneIreland | #TeamOfUs | #NZvIRE pic.twitter.com/6j4Y755bgT
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 13, 2022
Lions
Jordan Hendrikse grew in stature last season. Many feel he should have been included in the Boks squad for the Wales series.
A kicking clinic from @LionsRugbyCo's Jordan Hendrikse ?#URC | #LIOvCAR pic.twitter.com/AQxfxW8pgc
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 13, 2022
Back in the saddle for the Lions, the 21-year-old fly-half will be determined to prove a point.
Munster
He’s only just moved up from the academy but Alex Kendellen is already an important part of the senior side. It could be a huge season for the exciting back-row.
Ospreys
Joe Hawkins is only 20 but the centre is an exciting prospect. He can run, kick and pass. Let’s hope he gets enough game time to show what he’s got.
WOW ?
On the money from Joe Hawkins to find Harri Houston for the try ?#U20SummerSeries | @WelshRugbyUnion pic.twitter.com/tTZ8bDsJMc
— Six Nations Under-20s (@SixNationsU20) June 30, 2022
Scarlets
Sam Costelow is only 21 but the fly-half looks the part. It should be fun watching him.
? Our first award of the evening
Breakthrough Player of the Season
And the winner is…Sam Costelow ??
Llongyfarchiadau i ti Sam ar dy lwyddiant#YmaOHyd pic.twitter.com/FB6nJ2BAuO
— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) May 22, 2022
Sharks
The Sharks have been on the hunt for an abrasive and skilful blindside. Vincent Tshituka looks set to provide grunt and guile.
This powerhouse loose-forward has been ? this season with numerous VURC Player of the Match performances to his name. Welcoming the hugely talented Vincent Tshituka to #OurSharks family, as he joins us on a 3-year contract ?#OurSharksForever pic.twitter.com/vYRPmPRLW1
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) May 9, 2022
Stormers
Many feel that the best is yet to come from No 8 Evan Roos, and that he will take his game to the next level in the coming months.
Rugby Robbery ?
Evan Roos with the insane strip ?#URC #UnitedRugbyChampionship | #AllFor1 pic.twitter.com/czRsDY3mk7
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) June 9, 2022
Ulster
Ethan McIlroy on the wing is a lovely footballer with a vicious sidestep. A young player who gets people on their feet.
21-year-old Ulster back Ethan McIlroy has really sharp footwork. pic.twitter.com/jxlTCKptnu
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) December 1, 2021
Zebre Parma
Pierre Bruno is not the biggest or quickest of wings, but there is something very watchable about the unfussily effective manner in which he goes about his business.
Pierre Bruno has wasted no time opening his account for @Federugby ?#AutumnNationsSeries #ITAvURU pic.twitter.com/VGlQHPg22e
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 20, 2021
His threat will be pivotal to Zebre’s hopes of improving on a miserable record of only 32 URC tries last term (they conceded 90).
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