Six Nations Countdown: Four players who debuted at the age of 18
- 1998
As the countdown to the kick off of the 2023 Six Nations continues, we find ourselves just 18 days out from the action. Today we take a look at four players who made their championship debuts at the tender age of 18.
1. Tom Prydie (Wales,) 18yrs & 25 days
Also Wales youngest try scorer, Prydie was named on the wing in the starting team for Wales’ final 2010 Six Nations match against Italy and became the youngest cap in Wales’ rugby history. In June 2010 Prydie became Wales’ youngest try scorer at 18 years and 102 days against South Africa.
2. Tom Curry (England), 18yrs & 314 days
Making his England debut five days before his 19th birthday, against Argentina in 2017, Curry became England’s youngest forward since 1912. In that period, only Jonny Wilkinson debuted for the country at a younger age.
3. Jonny Wilkinson (England), 18 years & 314 days
Wilkinson was the second-youngest England debutant in history when he made his international debut against Ireland on 4 April 1998. Wilkinson made four appearances in the 1999 Five Nations, scoring 60 points, after which Italy joined the competition to complete the Championship line-up as it stands today.
4. Matthew Tait (England), 18 years. & 363 days
Tait gained media attention when Andy Robinson named him in the England starting XV for their opening 2005 Six Nations Championship game against Wales on 5 February. England lost that match 11–9.
