Umaga raps English obsessions

[jgriffin]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/ ... _News_Feed

Says a lot of the criticisms some have voiced on here over the years, that stunt the UK game.

[JP14]

Good article thanks for sharing, it’s taken quite a while for Jacob Umaga to come to the fore highlighting how clubs do need to be more patient. I’m not saying had he stayed at Tigers we would have got rid of him as he got snapped up by Wasps on a senior contract.

[RagingBull]

I think it's a cope out a bit comparing NZ to England.
How many "Small" players do come through NZ?
McKenzie? Who primary plays a position where physicality isn't needed (and still gets called too small by them).

Umaga has literally played for
Midlands 16's
England Lions 16's
Leicester U18
Leicester A
England U18
England U19
Wasps A
England U20
Wasps
Yorkshire
England wider training squad.

I struggle to see how he was really hampered by his size or that Mckenzie wouldn't have gotten in those teams either now.

[jgriffin]

Rooves exist at all levels in the game, and especially at international level in the UK physical bulk and height have been obsessions for decades. While Umaga may be the spur for comment, the priorities by and large remain. Lower down the chain, early developers are fast-tracked and late developers discarded, as often noted on here; equally we have argued in the past about the considerable obstacles to those of less advantageous backgrounds.

[GETHIN EXILE]

strange how he goes on about New Zealand way - who were the first international side to put a player built like a back row forward on the wing internationally!!! Jonah Lomu was a great player but would have been a brilliant back row forward if he had been played there.

[JP14]

As good as Umaga is, my issue with him is that he is a ball-hogger/never takes easier option.

[loretta]

To be honest, I was never very impressed with Umaga before he left Tigers. Since then, I've only seen him play for Wasps once, but it only confirmed by opinion.