Deacon: My fears for generation of players
PAUL Deacon fears the development of a generation of players is being badly hit by the Covid pandemic.
With grassroots, age group, school and academy rugby effectively shut down since the virus struck in March, thousands of young players have been unable to take to the field for the last eight months.
And Sale’s interim head coach Deacon says that has hit their ability to improve and also for fringe players to force their way into the firstteam picture at top-flight clubs.
In recent years, Sharks have imported a host of big names from South Africa, but have also developed their own such as England star Tom Curry and his brother Ben.
Deacon, who has been put in temporary charge following the shock departure of director of rugby Steve Diamond earlier this month, is keen to give some of Sale’s young players a chance to prove themselves in the first time.
But he admits, that is now very difficult.
“We want to grow our own players, that’s really important,” he said. “We have a lot of talent coming through and I want to give them some opportunities to prove themselves.
“But with the current climate we are in, a lot of them can’t play anywhere, so that is really hard for our group of young lads and those on the periphery of the first team.
“We are working hard to get that right and give them the right opportunities at the right time.
“I feel so sorry for that generation across the whole country, whatever they do.
“At that age and stage of their development they, need to play games and, unfortunately, they haven’t been able to do that. “You have to consider that when you are picking teams. To throw a 19-year-old in for his debut when he hasn’t played for eight months, it is a tough ask.
“And to expect them to perform at a level you need them to perform at, it is tough, it is really tough.” Deacon, whose side visit Gloucester on Saturday in the Gallagher Premiership, believes motivation is now a big issue for young players, and fears the sport may lose some top talent.
He said: “Their development has been affected, you can’t dispute that. You learn most from playing games, and they can’t do that.
“It has not been a great year for those guys.
“It is hard for them to stay motivated, we have to help them with that. But 19 and 20-year-olds, they just want to play games.
“The situation is not great for them.”
Sale were the first Premiership club to suffer a large Covid outbreak last season which saw them having to forfeit their final game of the season against Worcester – in turn costing them the chance to secure a place in the play-offs.
Last weekend, Leicester and London Irish both had to cancel matches and close their training grounds because of positive cases at the clubs, with opponents Newcastle and Bath awarded wins.
Football has seen a host of games called off because of outbreaks, with Manchester City the latest to report several positive tests forcing Monday’s game at Everton to be cancelled. It has led to some in the game to call for a two-week break to avoid further disruption.
And Deacon says Sharks are doing all they can to ensure their camp stays clear of another outbreak.
He said: “The powers that be will decide if we have a break. Here at Sale we had the first outbreak in the Premiership last season, so we are vigilant and doing everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“But the way it is going across the country, things aren’t great at the minute, there is a lot of bad news around, but hopefully we will stay healthy.”
I feel so sorry for that generation across the whole country, whatever they do Paul Deacon