Ex-goalie Heyes is new prop blueprint
Neale Harvey talks to Peter Walton, the man who has helped shape England’s new batch
England U18s forwards guru Peter Walton has lifted the lid on why kicking skills are now as highly prized as the traditional ability of big units to push when it comes to identifying the next generation of senior Red Rose tight-head props.
Twenty-six England young guns will head to South Africa next month for a three-match tour that includes games against South Africa Schools, Wales and France.
However, this is no ordinary trip for among their trail-blazing ranks will be Leicester tighthead Joe Heyes, a former Nottingham Forest youth team goalkeeper who’s ability to kick the ball stands him out as something a bit extra-special.
The thought of any prop kicking, let alone a tight-head, would be enough to send most selfrespecting front row club practitioners into a tailspin of despair, but it is the radical way modern England are thinking under Eddie Jones.
Walton, the former Newcastle flanker who has been pushing boundaries on behalf of England Rugby since 2008, explained to The Rugby Paper: “Why shouldn’t props kick? We’ve got to look outside the box rather than stereotype by positions.
“Joe Heyes is an ex-Nottingham Forest goalie who’s only been playing rugby seriously for the last couple of years. He’s gone from football to playing in the back row and now he’s a tight-head prop for England U18s with a contract at Leicester.
“He’s probably one of the best kickers we’ve got, but that’s where we’re going as U18s coaches.
“We want props who can kick the ball and chip over people and Joe’s a better kicker than some of the backs, so why shouldn’t he do it? The future of the game means it doesn’t matter what position you’re in, you’ve got to do everything.
“In future, I think you’ll see lots of props kicking. People made a big fuss when Mako Vunipola kicked in a game towards the end of the season, but we don’t put any barriers up and kicking is part of our U18s warm-up routine for props.”
Walton’s visionary thinking partly explains why England’s front row stocks are at an all-time high since the nadir in 2007, when a lack of options meant veteran tight-heads Darren Crompton and Stuart Turner were summoned to the senior ranks at a combined age of 69.
Heyes, along with 19-year-old Exeter prodigy Marcus Street, are England’s future and recent senior caps Kyle Sinckler (aged 23), Paul Hill (22), Will Collier (26) and Harry Williams (25) can already hear the clattering of hooves behind them as the age profile descends further, while Dan Cole, at 30, must feel positively prehistoric.
With the uncapped Nick Schonert (Worcester), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Northampton) and Scott Wilson (Newcastle) in the mix as well, Walton can rightly feel proud of the strength-in-depth extending across all the forward positions.
Walton said: “We’ve got a lot of good players coming through, some you won’t have heard of yet, and I’m chuffed to see how well Kyle Sinckler’s gone with England and the Lions.
“He was with us in 2011 and he’s doing exactly the same things now as he was at 18, knocking people flying and running hard. The depth-chart is looking really good and there are other lads who could yet come flying through.
“Scott Wilson, an U20s World Cup winner in 2013, is coming back from injury at Newcastle and if he gets a run of games he’ll be in contention, as will Henry Thomas (Bath) and Alec Hepburn (Exeter), who’s another great kicker.
Walton added: “I’m proud of our success rate and you’ve got to be pretty special to get into the senior squad now. Nick Isiekwe and Charlie Ewels are showing what they can do in the second row, while back row is looking healthy.
“The Currys are doing what they’re doing and Sam Underhill is in there as well, but what’s below them is pretty exciting. That’s what this U18s tour is all about and these boys, some only 17, will have a special experience.”