'Tofty' on mission to improve the pathway for England

MARK Mapletoft had no hesitation when he was last month offered the chance to take the England Under 20s to the Junior World Cup in South Africa. 

- PAUL REES

He had done so at the end of the 2000s when, after his 15-year playing career as an outside-half and full-back that took in Gloucester, Harlequins and London Irish, he moved into coaching and joined the RFU’s academy.

A successful decade at Quins followed, culminating in his appointment as head coach, before he returned to the age-grade game. He was the England U18s assistant coach when he received a call from Alan Dickens last month to say he was standing down from the U20s.

“Alan and I spoke regularly because of our roles in the pathway,” said Mapletoft. “I knew a number of players in the U20s having worked with them a couple of years before and it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“I had been to a few Junior World Cups before, I worked for the RFU and I was available. I hope to continue in the job moving forward. It is an interesting challenge. We are dealing with the players of the future and it is our job to prepare them in the best way possible.

“It was a no-brainer. I saw it as an opportunity to support players at a vitally important time rather than fuelling any personal ambitions. I am passionate about the pathway and how we can make it better.”

It has been a year unlike any other for the pro game in England, and not for the right reasons. Mapletoft is still getting over the collapse of one of his former clubs, London Irish, which followed the demise of Worcester and Wasps in the opening weeks of last season.

The bridge between age-grade and senior rugby has never been the smoothest to cross, but at a time when players from Worcester, Wasps and Irish have flooded the market, the salary cap has remained at £5m and clubs are cutting costs at a time of high inflation, the outlook has never been more uncertain for emerging players.