Plenty of student gems to be found says Kiss

LES Kiss says clubs are missing a trick and flunking their homework if they don’t keep tabs on student rugby.

The rise of Alex Dombrandt has put the university pathway to professional in the spotlight after the Harlequins No.8 graduated to England via Cardiff Met University.

Dombrandt did not go through the traditional academy route and head coach Kiss has a back rower of his own at London Irish who has trod a similar path from Cardiff Met.

Tom Pearson was days off his 22nd birthday when he was thrown in against Exeter in October and helped Exiles to a 33-21 win at Sandy Park. And Kiss says there are plenty more where that pair came from and clubs would be foolish not to keep notes on high flyers in student rugby.

Kiss said: “You won’t get everyone right but I think there is something to look at there for sure. I have been through academy systems in most of the world now – most major competitions through South Africa, Australia, Japan, Ireland and here – and the academies don’t always get it right in picking out young men.

“That doesn’t mean it is wrong it just means sometimes you make a choice. These guys exist somewhere and it is always important to have the radar on. The university system is a good one.”

Pearson followed up that win in Devon by starring in Premiership clashes with Saracens, a 34-34 draw, and Harlequins, a memorable 22-19 win. Kiss reckons Irish are reaping the benefits of being bold and taking the plunge with Pearson.

He added: “Tom is a work in progress but he has stepped up to the plate so far. If you are waiting for a player to be ready to play he will never play. Experience is experienced by doing and then you have to trust the group around him. It was a big call to put him in at Exeter but if there is something there you know you will gain from it. I would rather risk having something than risk losing something.”