Dynamic Sharks duo tipped for Pumas tour
SALE young guns Ben and Tom Curry are on course to become the youngest forwards to play a Test for England in the post-War era according to teammate Dave Seymour.
The Curry twins were standout performers in England’s U20 Grand Slam success, as was captain Zach Mercer, and higher honours appear to be just around the corner for all three of the back row.
If selected to tour this summer by Eddie Jones, the duo will celebrate their 19th birthdays in Argentina. Northampton flanker Brian West was 19 years and 227 days when he made his debut against Wales at Twickenham in 1968.
Flanker Seymour said: “I’d imagine Eddie has his eye on them. They have been dominating their age group in the Six Nations and there are rumours they’ll be involved in a tour in the summer. If they are, it wouldn’t surprise me.
“You wouldn’t know by watching them that they have only played about 15 first-team games each. They are both fast, have a great skill set and are large for their age group – physically, they are there 100 per cent and that’s very impressive at 18.
“Some youngsters come on the scene and do really well and then their hunger wanes a bit but I don’t think that’ll happen with these two, they are always looking to do extras.
“You can’t go far wrong learning from Richard Hill, who I played with at Saracens and is one of the smartest back rows there’s ever been. He was a mentor to them last year, and I think that’s why they have developed so quickly.”
Seymour, now in his 13th year as a professional, has played over 200 Premiership games and has one more year of his contract at Sale to run.
With a new start-up business to run, Crouch, Grind, Coffee, the 32-year-old is preparing for life after rugby, but he is enjoying seeing the next generation of players coming through.
“It is great for the club to get those two (the Currys) signed up for five years, they are going to move up the ranks pretty quickly.
“We’ve also got the likes of Will Addison, Sam James, Josh Beaumont, Mike Haley and Cam Neild, who are all still young but have built up a lot of experience, while Ross Harrison recently played his 150th game which is a crazy milestone for a prop of 24.
“With those lads staying together for some time, you’d hope that some success will come out of it.”
Seymour, however, has no intention of being an idle bystander and giving the Currys an easy ride into the side at his expense.
“I’ll be trying to trip them up when we do fitness training to make sure I am out in front,” he joked.
“I’ve still got another year and it is great to be a part of the club right now with all these youngsters coming through and everyone pushing each other for their place in the side.
“When you’ve got 18 year olds like the Currys pushing us older guys it’s good for the bigger picture.
“What we all want is for Sale to climb up that table and get into semi-finals.”