Jack Bracken: 'It’s a daunting one, definitely takes some bravery'

Jack Bracken is forging his own path in rugby, carving out a niche for himself on the wing with England U20s, but he is still very much a chip off the old block that is Kyran Bracken, the scrum-half who was part of the Clive Woodward Test squad that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The influence of the 51 Test-capper, who toured as a replacement with the 1997 British and Irish Lions, certainly rubbed off on his 19-year-old son in the family back garden and at Barnet, the club where dad coached Jack and older brother Charlie when they were kids.

Charlie has resolutely positionally followed in his father’s footsteps, starring at No9 for the England U20s in 2023 and now making his way at Mark McCall's Saracens behind Ivan van Zyl and co.

Jack, though, decided a while ago his promise would be best fulfilled by switching away from half-back, migrating towards the wing and also nurturing the skills required to play at full-back.

This tactic has paid off handsomely so far. Last year’s Six Nations title-winning campaign by Mark Mapletoft’s U20s was beyond him… he remembers watching at home on the BBC as England sealed U20s glory away to France in Pau last March.

However, impressive efforts with England U19s quickly convinced Mapletoft that the teenager was worth including for the World Rugby U20 Championship. He took to the promotion like a duck to water, scoring a hat-trick on debut against Argentina in a tournament the English on to win in Cape Town.

Now, fresh from try-scoring efforts against Scotland and Italy in this year’s Six Nations, Bracken is on the cusp of rounding off spring 2025 as an age-grade Grand Slam winner... provided England get past the Arms Park challenge of Wales on Friday night.

“It’s a really exciting prospect,” he enthused from Bisham Abbey before jumping on the bus to Cardiff and listening to some Zach Bryan on his headphones ahead of his team’s round five moment of truth. “There are feelings of excitement throughout camp, a great vibe, and we are all really looking forward to it.

“Mark has been saying throughout the week that you get really lucky to get the opportunity to play for a Grand Slam once in your life, so we are trying to make the most of it and put ourselves in the best place possible for Friday.

“There are some areas to improve upon, especially defence. The first three games, that was such a strong point and then against Italy, it maybe let us down a bit. So taking that learning into Wales is definitely going to be really important.

“Last year set the standard and we are just trying to improve on that. There definitely is a feeling of confidence. We are coming from a position of strength, especially from last year. But the feeling is we just want to build from it, we’re not looking to the past. We are trying to focus on ourselves.

“It’s a new team so a lot of new boys but also a lot of experienced boys. I’m trying to use that experience to really lead the team and hopefully guide us to a Grand Slam,” he explained, adding what his recent highlights have been. “My Scotland game was definitely my favourite. Scoring in the corner, getting my first try of the Six Nations.”

Bracken was only 18 when he made first waves with his country’s U20s, flying past an Argentinian defender and scoring with a fast gallop from the 22-metre line to get England back into a contest at Athlone where they trailed 0-14 approaching the interval.

Two more scores followed from the youngster in the second half of the campaign-launching 40-21 win and he was understandably chuffed with himself when he stopped in the dressing room tunnel post-game for a quick reflection with RugbyPass.

“It’s really incredible. I can’t describe it,” he began nine months ago. “My ability to beat defenders is one of my strong points. I got given the opportunity today and I took it pretty well.”

Bracken sure did. He ultimately returned from South Africa as a World Cup winner, an outcome that trumped the fourth-place finish his brother Charlie was involved in the previous year. His older sibling’s experience was a motivation.

“Definitely. He has shown me that it’s possible, showing me the steps I needed to take to get in that same position. His habits off the pitch, I really look up to him in terms of how seriously he takes his recovery, his nutrition, his strength and conditioning, whatever.

“He is like a role model of mine, I really look up to him and he has definitely helped me to get to the position that I am today. He just leads by example and I am taking notes pretty much.”

It's Bracken Sr, though, who has had the best family effect on his game. “In terms of my development he is the biggest influence on me,” explained Jack. “In terms of the tactical and technical side of the game, he definitely helped me.

“I grew up playing as a nine, so a lot of my skills development has come from that and training with him in the back garden. As I have developed and moved out to the wing and full-back, the mental side of the game he has really helped me with.

“Obviously he doesn’t know too much about playing on the wing but what he does know is how to cope with the mental side of it and the ups and downs and that is how he has really helped me develop as a player in recent years.

"He has been through it all and he knows the highs and lows of the game better than anyone, so I really take his advice and really trust him in that aspect.”

Growing up, there was no epiphany that dad was rugby royalty. “I can’t think of one example, it was over time. Friends making me aware of it, I guess. He used to coach me down at Barnet, my local club, and that is definitely something that stuck out for me. I wouldn’t say there is a specific moment I realised he had accomplished so much in the game.”

That pride is now a two-way street. “We all have our shirts hung up in an office somewhere. There is quite a bit of memorabilia dotted about the place,” he said.

“He does a lot of memorabilia stuff as well for charity and it is very cool to see that side of it. He would be quite humble about it [being a 2003 World Cup winner), but when you do see that yourself it’s quite special.

“Obviously he wants the best for me as a rugby player so he does have his coaching hat on now and then but I’d say is more as a parent just enjoying watching me playing. I am sure he takes great pride in watching me play for England.

“I’d say playing in different positions we are very different but I do credit a lot of my pace and power to my dad. You could see that when he used to play and hopefully you can see that in my game as well. My attributes are more suited to the wing, my pace and power, and maybe not so much to a nine.

“I definitely use my skills and my development from playing as a nine to benefit me on the wing but what I take pride in is being able to beat defenders and get around them. That is most suited to playing on the wing.”

Which current players have shaped him? “I’d say at the moment Tommy Freeman, he is someone who is performing really well for England. I’d like to think I can replicate some of his attributes, like his pace and his power being able to beat defenders. I definitely think Will Jordan is someone who I have looked up to in recent years. His electric pace is something I want to take into my game.”

Wing play, though, has become about so much more than just pace. Taking to the skies and winning the aerial duel keeps growing in importance. “That is something I am trying to improve upon.

"It’s becoming more important throughout the game, especially with the rule changes with box kicks and allowing access. It’s something that is going to be really important and it is something I am trying to make a super strength of mine.

“It’s definitely a daunting one. You have got to be brave, that is the main thing, just focus on the ball and not really look at what is ahead of you. You just trust your pace to get into the air and get into the right position. It definitely takes some bravery.

“It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and that only comes through practice really so a lot of repetition of getting in the air, avoiding the distractions and trying to catch above your head as well.”

After Friday night, Bracken will see out the season with Loughborough before England defend their U20s World Cup title in Italy. In the long-term, though, progress at Saracens is what he aspires to.

He has already had a taste, lining out for Sarries with Charlie in a friendly against Bedford and scoring against Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby Cup either side of a Championship debut with Ampthill.

“I have had a great few games this season. Loughborough, Ampthill and Sarries. Being able to play with my brother is really special, that Bedford warm-up and also in the Prem Cup against Quins a few weeks ago. There have been quite a few opportunities this season.

“I was glad I made the most of it at Quins with the try in the corner. To come on with my brother made it a bit more special. He is two years older than me so we never really got the chance (to play together growing up). I played with him at Rosslyn Park 7s briefly and then in the Champ, so not that many opportunities before.

“Hopefully we’ll get a few more next season, whether that is at Ampthill or with Sarries in Prem Cup. Talent gets you through the door but work rate keeps you in the room. That is something I am really trying to focus on, my work rate and my effort. That has definitely helped me throughout my time at Sarries.”