U23 Super Rugby XV

As we await the kick off of the 2018 Super Rugby season we take a look at the top youngster in that will make their mark in 2018 edition of the competition. 

1. Felipe Arregui (Jaguares)

Argentina is renowned for producing quality front rowers and Felipe Arregui is no different. He has already been involved with the test side and will look to stamp his claim on the no.1 jersey this season. 

Other looseheads to look out for: 

Pierre Schoeman (Bulls), Thomas du Toit (Sharks)

2. Malcolm Marx (Lions)

 

 Marx seems to be an experienced campaigner having helped the Lions to two Super Rugby Finals already but the Springbok hooker is still 23-years-old ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby competition.

Other younger hookers to look out for this season:

Jordan Uelese (Rebels), Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes)

3. Taniela Tupou (Reds)

Having made headlines during the 2017 Brisbane 10s Tupou went on to have a brilliant season with the Reds and Queensland and earned his test debut against Scotland just days after qualifying to represent Australia.

Other young tightheads to look out for: 

Wilco Louw (Stormers), Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders), Ed Fidow (Hurricanes)

4. Marcos Kremer (Jaguares)

Kremer spent time with both the u20s and senior Los Pumas squads in both 2016 and 2017 and will look to build on a stellar start to his professional career.

The big-hitting, hardworking second rower has a bright future ahead of him.

Other young locks to look out for:

Matthew Philip (Rebels)

5. RG Snyman (Bulls)

The Bulls second rower has been a mainstay in the side since his debut in 2015 and has even earned a non-test cap for his country against the Barbarians. 

Other young locks to look out for:

Josh Goodhue (Blues), Harry Hockings (Reds)

6. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks)

Jean-Luc du Preez and have been destructive since debuting in Super Rugby and Jean-Luc will look to continue to push on with his high work rate in the 2018 season. 

Other young flankers to look out for: 

Ned Hanigan (Waratahs), Dalton Papali'i (Blues)

7. Blake Gibson (Blues)

 

Gibson caught the eye of All Blacks coach Steve Hansen during the 2017 season, with his busy nature and skill at ruck time. Gibson will miss the opening rounds of the tournament but will return from injury look to grab a spot in the All Blacks squad.

Other young flankers to look out for: 

Jack Dempsey (Waratahs), Liam Wright (Reds)

8. Juarno Augustus (Stormers)

 

The 2017 World Rugby U20 Player of the Year will look to impress in his first full Super Rugby season. Augustus is gifted with the speed and skillset of an outside back but tackles like back-rower.

Other young eights to look out for: 

Hacjivah Dayimani (Lions), Dan du Preez (Sharks)

9. Embrose Papier (Bulls)

Former South African u20 scrumhalf has impressed Bulls coach John Mitchell so much that he has replaced Rudy Paige in the Bulls Super Rugby. A speedy halfback with an accurate kicking and passing game, Papier will be a handful in 2018.

Other young scrumhalves to look out for: 

Marco Jansen van Vuren (Lions)

10. Curwin Bosch (Sharks)

 

Bosch was one of the tournaments top scorers last season despite missing a large amount of the tournament to represent the South African u20s. He heads into the 2018 Super Rugby season as a Springbok having made his debut against Argentina.

Other young flyhalves to look out for: 

Damian Willemse (Stormers), Stephen Perofeta (Blues)

11. Rieko Ioane (Blues)

 

Tana Umaga has labelled Rieko Ioane as the best left winger in the world and it's easy to see why. The 100kg winger has electric speed, a dazzling step and expectional all round skill and is likely to be one the tournaments top-scorers this season.

Other young wingers to look out for: 

Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), Sbu Nkosi (Sharks), Caleb Clarke

12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions)

  

Janse van Rensburg returns to the Lions after a short stint with Sale Sharks and will look to reclaim his spot in the Springbok squad under Rassie Erasmus. Rohan is a destructive ball carrier, an astute defender and great distributor. 

Other young inside centres to look out for: 

Andre Esterhuizen, TJ Faiane, Duncan Paia'aua

13. Anton Lienert-Brown

Hard to believe the man that made his test debut in 2016 is still only 22! Lienert-Brown has established himself as one the premier centres in the competition, with his wide skill set allowing him to play at inside and outside centre.

Other young outside centres to look out for: 

Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)

14. Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares) 

World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Nominee Emiliano Boffelli had a fine year with the Jaguares and Los Pumas and will be tasked with filling Santiago Cordero's boot this season. 

He has a wide range of skills at his disposal including his accurate long-range boot.

Other young wingers to look out for: 

Brayden Ennor (Crusaders), Joshua McKay (Highlanders), George Bridge (Crusaders)

15. Jordie Barrett

 

An injury ended Jordie Barrett's season last year and will look to continue his swift rise which saw him start the final test against the British and Irish Lions.

Barrett is tall enough to be a lock but his incredible skillset makes him one of the most dangerous fullbacks in the world. 

Other young fullbacks to look out for: 

Will Jordan (Crusaders), David Havili, Warrick Gelant (Bulls), Tom Banks (Brumbies), Solomon Alaimalo

At the time of writing all these all these players were 23 or younger