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The 'cheery, jolly' 20-year-old Kiwi making rapid strides at Irish

(Photo by Karl Bridgeman/Getty Images)

Declan Kidney has given his approval to the rapid progress Chandler Cunningham-South has made at London Irish since joining the Gallagher Premiership club’s academy just last February. The New Zealander, who played for North Harbour U18s, Canterbury U19s and Lincoln University in Christchurch – as well as training with rugby league’s NZ Warriors – before arriving in England, was quickly introduced to the international age-grade rugby system, playing in three U20s Six Nations matches.

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After a 13-minute Irish debut away to Bath in the final Premiership match of the 2021/22 campaign, Cunninghan-South returned to Alan Dickens’ U20s set-up to play four more games with England in their Summer Series.

Since then, he has returned to an Irish squad that lost back-rowers Sean O’Brien to retirement and Albert Tuisue to a transfer – and thrived.

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A starter last month at Bristol, last Friday’s 19 minutes off the bench against Gloucester was the fifth energetic appearance of the 2022/23 Premiership for Cunningham-South and Kidney has enjoyed seeing what the dreadlocked 120kg No8/flanker/lock has been bringing to the top flight fight with Irish.

Asked by RugbyPass for his verdict on the versatile forward whose career has pressed the accelerator in 2022, Kidney said: “He has played more for England U20s than he has played for us. We integrated him in and at the last game of the season with Bath, we had what I would call a circle of life photo.

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“We had Sean, Albert and Chandler. Sean was retiring, Albert was moving on and Chandler was stepping in. You need to keep that cycle of players within your squad. He enjoys the game and that is what you want younger players to do – enjoy and learn at the same time because some of the good things that he does are clear and obvious for people to see and then there are some areas that he knows he has to work in.

“Thankfully, Chandler is an intelligent young man and is more than aware of how much growth there is left in him to get to where he could go. He is a cheery, jolly fella. He brings a good atmosphere to the changing room. He’s a good lad, good company.”

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Hellhound 33 minutes ago
Junior Springboks underline U20 title credentials in devastating display vs Scotland

The junior Bokkies is really doing very well, underlining the strength and depth in the SA rugby system. Who will snatch these players up? My worries is that there is just not enough professional teams that compete internationally, and most of these players might be lost to other leagues/countries in the future.

SARU needs to add more teams to the Currie Cup, maybe rebrand the competition. SA have as much, if not more talent than the French. We could easily supply about 14 teams, who could be very competitive with all the young talent coming through, others who might come back. The biggest problem SA rugby have, is money. The club's just don't have money and SARU holds the keys. SA needs investment, but that won't happen unless more teams, or a new system is brought forth. With the right investors, the club scene will make a lot of money. I would look towards the IPL franchise owners or the UAE. They have the money to grow the sport, build new stadiums etc. With 44 African countries, one or two teams per country could easily made up to 4 or 5 tiers of rugby competitions. Even if those countries play their national teams in the local club competition. It would help African rugby too, facing teams like the Bulls and Sharks etc. on a regular basis. Africa is untapped potential. There is big room for improvement. Currently SA is in a bubble or Island of their own on the African continent. Money is available from the right investors if they actually do proper marketing and get businesses or mine owners involved in sponsoring teams. Yes there is a lot of red tape, but creating a league the size of the French clubs scene could easily be achieved. There is more than enough very good players available, however no funds is available currently. There is certainly more than enough African billionaires around to be able to create a league like that. Many countries are currently diluting the SA talent, snapping them up young, offering what SA can't. Money. How many of these young stars will go on to represent a provincial team or the Boks? How many will find it so difficult to make a career of rugby and leave the sport? How many have been lost? With WR favouring the Northern Hemisphere, ignoring the Southern Hemisphere despite the South being the strongest throughout history (9 WC trophies compared to 1) they are pouring money into the NH leaving the SH to struggle for money and that's what you get. Weak local competitions like the Currie Cup. The attraction to watch the league? Same as playing rugby in your backyard.

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