Quote Andy Gilder="Andy Gilder"Anyone remember the last 17 year old forward to come into top division RL and look physically ready for it? You're probably going back to the days of Sculthorpe and Farrell, maybe Nick Scruton more recently?
Thankfully clubs take a more long-term view when it comes to the physical development of young players these days, looking to build muscle mass more slowly onto bodies that are still developing.'"
It's case-by-case as to which young forwards are ready. Nobody could say Sam Burgess wasn't physically ready for open age rugby at 17. Craig Huby played a full season for Cas at 16, iirc.
