With the success of Joseph Suaalii from rugby league so evident in union, perhaps it’s time for other nations to revisit the code switch that has worked so well in the past.
In England, former stars like Jason Robinson and Chris Ashton made a huge success of their careers when switching over from the 13-man game, and even Andy Farrell has gone on to become one of the most revered coaches in world rugby since his conversion in the autumn of his playing career.
However, there’s been limited code-switch success in England in recent years, with Sam Burgess’s 2014/15 nightmare seemingly putting a curse on those who have attempted to cross over since.
As Suaalii’s success shows, however, the right switch can prove hugely beneficial for both player and union.
Here are five players that the RFU should approach to make the switch to union.
Herbie Farnworth
England rugby union have not had a world-class, out-and-out inside centre in years. They’re blessed with top quality outside centres and fly-halves that can slot into 12, but they don’t have anyone of the Ma’a Nonu or Joseph Suaalii ilk.
This is where Herbie Farnworth can come in.
Once a part of the Manchester United youth development squad, the young athlete showed all the attributes to be a top star in whichever sport he chose. The now 25-year-old found his calling in rugby league, where he has become one of the biggest stars in the NRL of Australia.
An England international, the centre is a powerful runner with great hands and a terrific sense of the tryline – all attributes that could make him a huge success if he returned to union, a code he played as a youngster.
Dom Young
There’s certainly no shortage of depth in the England ranks for wingers, but to have the explosive Dom Young at your disposal could be a very welcome bonus. One of the most deadly finishers in the NRL, the Newcastle Knights’ wideman has pure gas and can step or power over defences in whichever fashion he chooses.
At a remarkable 6 ft 7 in, Young towers above his teammates, using his long, rangy legs to speed past defences. With rugby union taking advantage of the kick-pass with increased frequency, his added height could become a real bonus should he decide to make the move over.
Jack Welsby
Fullback is a bit of a tricky area for England currently. Whilst they’ve got a plethora of stars waiting to take the wing spots, there are currently only two or three genuine contenders for the number 15 shirt. Freddie Steward was the number one choice for years, but his lack of ability in attack and his turning speed have been targeted heavily in recent times, causing Borthwick to select the more all-round sportsman, George Furbank.
Jack Welsby could be a welcome combination of the two. A confident playmaker and powerful tackler, the 24-year-old has also shown that he has the gas to chase down attackers when they break the line.
Mikey Lewis
England have a scrum half in Alex Mitchell who has proven himself in recent years to be a world-class operator, but there are questions about the trailing pack. Although Harry Randall, Jack van Poortvliet, Raffi Quirke and Will Porter are all top-quality options, there does, at least for the moment, appear to be a huge gap in quality between them and the very best in the world.
That’s where Mikey Lewis could come in. The international half-back possesses all the qualities needed to make it in rugby union. He’s an intelligent playmaker who can read the game well, he has almost perfect basic skills, and is notoriously difficult to bring down in the tackle.
At just 24-years-old, he’s also young enough to be moulded into a key man for England for the next 10 years.
Morgan Knowles
This powerful operator would add to an already stacked England back-row, but what he possesses could help him stand out amongst the competition. Although he would have had to adjust his tackle height, he’s proved that he has the physicality to dominate in the tackle area like very few others, but it’s his handling that would set him apart from other back rowers.
With rugby union asking more of their forwards than ever before, Knowles’ soft hands would prove ideal in the modern game, allowing players either side of him to make breakthroughs as he attracts opposition tackles before deftly offloading to his teammates.
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