Rugby World UK – July 2019

Age 21 (21.6.97) Position Wing

The diminutive Hawick native’s gone

from sevens to starring for Edinburgh

and finishing off international scores

in no time, stepping, sprinting and

punching above his weight the whole

time. None more so than in that mad

Six Nations draw against England.

Age 21 (17.3.98) Position Prop

The star of France’s U20 World Cup win

last year, he took up rugby at 14 and has

enjoyed a rapid rise to the Test ranks

despite playing in the French second

division. The age-grade judo champion

makes his power tell in the scrum and

loose – he battered his way past 14

defenders during the Six Nations!

Age 28 (27.11.90) Position Lock

The Bok has picked up where he left

off in 2018 Super Rugby, when his

tackle and lineout stats blew everyone

else away. He’s formed a formidable

pairing with Ed Slater at Gloucester,

his physicality and work-rate gaining

him instant acclaim from The Shed.

88

RAMIRO

MOYANO

87 DARCY GRAHAM 86 DEMBA BAMBA 85 FRANCO MOSTERT
4 6 29

30

100 Best Players

Age 29 (28 May 1990) Position Back three

B

UMP INTO Moyano on the

street and you wouldn’t

imagine he is one of

Argentina’s best players.

His 5ft 10in and 13st frame is not as

muscular as your average professional

player, but his inner strength, hunger

and personality make up for any

perceived size issues there may be.

As an up-and-coming full-back, he

was so badly knocked out during the

U20 World Cup of 2010 that doctors

started resuscitation procedures. He

subsequently missed a lot of rugby

and his career briefly stalled.

Then he took the longer route to Test

rugby through the sevens circuit, on

which his marvellous skills shone.

After excelling in the shortened game,

he was in the frame for England 2015,

despite playing only six Internationals

against regional opposition in the

previous four seasons. He missed the

cut but was selected to play against the

Barbarians soon after the World Cup,

scoring a try at Twickenham.

He has since become a regular on

the wing, scoring a stunning try against

the All Blacks in Nelson last year and

contributing to many others.

With the ball in hand, he is quicker

than what his body language suggests;

in defence, he is totally committed.

He recently became a father and is

destined to have a great Japan 2019.