Sam is ‘Selected’ in The Rugby Paper’s Dream XV

Sam is ‘Selected’ in The Rugby Paper’s Dream XV

Congratulations are expressed to Cornish Pirates’ hooker Sam Matavesi, for his selection in The Rugby Paper’s 2018/19 Dream XV. Presently on loan to Stade Toulousain, Sam featured in 24 x Greene King IPA Championship and Championship Cup games during the season, and in the process scored eight tries.

Other Cornish Pirates in the frame, and close to selection, were tight-head prop Christian Judge, scrum-half Alex Day, wings Alex O’Meara and Robin Wedlake, and full-back Kyle Moyle.
General information:

London Irish may have been clear winners of the Greene King IPA Championship, but the wealth of talent to be found throughout English rugby’s second tier is once again evident in this year’s Dream Team.

Voted for by the coaches in the division, the 2018/19 Dream Team includes representatives from no less than seven different clubs. The Champions London Irish and runners-up Ealing Trailfinders account for half-a-dozen of the players selected, while Jersey boast the single biggest contingent with four.

The Exiles’ Bath-bound loose forward Josh McInally attracted the most votes of any one single player with all bar one of the coaching teams picking him at lock or in the back row. McNally is also the only player in this year’s line-up to have featured previously, having been included in the 2015/16 Dream Team whilst in the colours of London Welsh.

McNally is joined in the stellar line-up by Exiles’ No.8 Matt Rogerson, who is flanked by Ealing duo Rayn Smid and Jordy Reid, with Tom Stephenson getting the nod at outside centre. Ealing’s third pick is wing James Cordy-Redden.

Since winning promotion to the Championship in 2012, Jersey have earned a reputation for producing quality tight forwards, a number of whom have gone on to play at a higher level following their inclusion in the Dream Team. However, on this occasion three of their four representatives are backs, including an all-Reds half-back partnership of Will Homer and Brett Herron. Leroy Van Dam gets the nod on the wing, while Jerry Sexton accompanies McNally in the second row.

For only the second time since the Dream Team was introduced 16 years ago, the side relegated from the Championship has a presence, Richmond props Will Goodrick-Clarke and Craig Trenier earning a place in the front row either side of Sam Matavesi. Former Henley centre Ali James is the only other example of a player making the Dream Team whilst with a relegated club, in 2004/05.

Rarely a year goes by without Bedford Blues having an outside back included and Richard Lane was the standout choice on this occasion. Meanwhile, Yorkshire Carnegie’s Pete Lucock is named at inside centre, just reward for a player who has been a consistently high performer at this level.

The full selection is as follows:

1) WILL GOODRICK-CLARKE (RICHMOND)
Always puts in a big shift with a tackle count any back-row player would be proud to call his own. Offers plenty at scrum-time and in the loose too. London Irish have snapped him up for next season. Just edged out Sean McCarthy of Bedford.

2) SAM MATAVESI (CORNISH PIRATES)
Having switched to the front row from being a flanker, Matavesi has thrived both for club and country. Endeared for his all-action style, Matavesi is often at the forefront of defence and attack and his loan move to Toulouse at the tail-end of the season was well-deserved, as was his return to the Fiji team in November after a five-year absence.

3) CRAIG TRENIER (RICHMOND)
Destructive scrummager who has caused most opposition packs all sorts of problems this season. Will remain in the Championship next season after signing for Ealing Trailfinders. Cornish Pirates powerhouse Christian Judge was a close second.

4) JERRY SEXTON (JERSEY)
Keen student of the game who gives the Reds an edge at lineout time. Stepped up to captain the side at the back end of the season. Will be playing in the Pro14 next season after signing a three-year deal with the Southern Kings.

5) JOSH MCNALLY (LONDON IRISH)
Set to become the latest in a long line of players to make the move from London Irish to Bath after a stellar season in the Championship. At 6ft 7ins and more than 19st, McInally offers a real physical presence around the park and has played at lock and in the back row this season. Played in every game bar the final round of the season.

6) RAYN SMID (EALING TRAILFINDERS)
An ever-present for Ealing this season, scoring 11 tries and captaining the side. A fantastic ball carrier who is strong at the breakdown and hits hard in defence. Has covered all three back-row positions and is a real talisman of the team.

7) JORDY REID (EALING TRAILFINDERS)
Australian breakdown specialist in the mould of David Pocock and Michael Hooper, Reid was the pick of all but two of the opposition coaching teams for his brilliance at pilfering opposition ball. Aggressive runner who was voted Ealing’s Players’ Player of Year.

8) MATT ROGERSON (LONDON IRISH)
Hit the ground running with a man-of-the-match display against Ealing in the first game of the season and never looked back. The powerful ball-carrier warded off the threat of Janco Venter, his replacement at Jersey, and Yorkshire Carnegie’s Dan Temm, in this most competitive of positions.

9) WILL HOMER (JERSEY)
Has fine-tuned his core kicking and passing skills to become a more rounded nine, not just a running threat. Cornish Pirates’ Alex Day was unlucky to just miss out and Lee Dickson got a couple of votes in his swansong season at Bedford.

10) BRETT HERRON (JERSEY)
Summer move to Harlequins is recognition of a fine season in which Herron benefitted from regular rugby. Possesses good evasive skills as well as being an adept distributor and kicker. Honourable mentions go to Rory Jennings and Stephen Myler of London Scottish and London Irish respectively.

11) JAMES CORDY-REDDEN (EALING TRAILFINDERS)
Has an excellent strike record whilst at Ealing and has been no stranger to the try line again this term with 12 tries from 17 starts. Also possesses good aerial skills and carries the ball well. Championship top try scorer Dean Adamson came close to retaining his place from last season, while London Scottish’s Rob Stevenson and Cornish Pirates duo, Alex O’Meara and Robin Wedlake, came under consideration.

12) PETE LUCOCK (YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE)
Restored to his preferred position at inside centre after a spell as a makeshift fly-half, Lucock has been a rock of consistency in Yorkshire Carnegie’s rollercoaster ride of a season with his hard running lines and tough tackling. London Irish’s Terrence Hepetema impressed and might have made the team had he played more than half a season.

13) TOM STEPHENSON (LONDON IRISH)
Before his untimely injury towards the end of the season the former U20 World Cup winner had gone from strength-to-strength in the heart of the London Irish midfield. His balanced partnership with Hepetema earned rave reviews from the Exiles’ faithful and was as solid in defence as it was potent in attack.

14) LEROY VAN DAM (JERSEY)
Equally comfortable on either wing or at full-back, van Dam has been a superb addition to the Reds’ squad. Works hard with and without the ball and has reaped the rewards

15) RICHARD LANE (BEDFORD BLUES)
Can turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye with his searing pace and eye for a gap. Has the ability to bounce back off the ground and back on to his feet in a flash, making him a hard man to stop. Kyle Moyle was the only other contender for the full-back slot.