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Promising England Under 20 backrow Basham lands Premiership club
By Online Editors
England U20's backrow Josh Basham, who who started for England Under-20s in last summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship final, has landed himself a Premiership club.
A product of the London Irish Academy, the Buckinghamshire-born forward won three Daily Mail Trophies with Wellington College and captained England at Under-18s level, also helping London Irish to the Academy League title.
Now Newcastle Falcons have confirmed his signing on a three-year deal.
The 19-year-old joins the Falcons with immediate effect, but is not expected to play for the club this season while he recovers from an ankle operation.
Director of rugby Dean Richards said: “Josh is an outstanding young talent and we look forward to working with him once he has completed his rehab, but he is with us at the moment in preparation for that.”
He is currently in his first year studying for an economics degree at Durham University.
Standing at 6 foot 3 and weighing 104kg, Basham was a key figure for the England Under-20s team which lost narrowly to France in last summer’s Junior World Championship final, but was forced to miss the Six Nations following an ankle operation in January.
He said: “Newcastle Falcons have got a great reputation for promoting young talent, I like the way they play the game and it’s fantastic to have signed for the club.
“I’m able to combine my rugby programme with my studies at Durham University, which is great, and a number of the Falcons boys have done the same in recent years. I started my degree in September, I’m really enjoying it up here and it’s a major bonus that I am now able to combine that with a professional rugby contract.”
Outlining his injury situation as he looks forward to being fit for the start of pre-season, Basham said: “I had an operation at the end of January on my ankle, and I’m hopefully just a month or so away from completing my rehab.
“I’ve signed for three years and I’m hoping to really fly into pre-season – I know quite a few of the boys here from Durham Uni and England age-group stuff, and everyone has been very welcoming.”
Asked which position he prefers playing, the back-row man added: “Blind-side flanker is probably where I’m most effective and I’ve played No 8 as well, but I’ll basically play anywhere if the coaches feel it’s for the good of the team.
“I just can’t wait to get into things properly once I’ve completed my rehab, and I’m really happy to have joined up with the Falcons.”
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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