He’s only been on the senior rugby union scene for two minutes — or two top-flight games, if you prefer — but Iwan Stephens is evidently a young man in a hurry.
The son of former Wales fly-half Colin Stephens scored a try on his Newcastle Falcons debut on the opening weekend of the English season and followed it up with another in his second outing.
His reward is a place in the Gallagher Premiership’s team of the week alongside the likes of Manu Tuilagi and George Ford.
Opta provided the stats for supporters to choose from four players for each position., with the Land Rover fans’ XV of top performers selected on the basis of an impressive 18,695 votes.
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Leeds born and dual-qualified for Wales and England, Stephens junior is proving quite the talent.
Newcastle snapped up the back-three man after he opted to switch from rugby league, where he had made enough of an impression with Leeds Rhinos to make the England Academy team, helping them to a 62-0 win over Wales U19s in 2019.
He also made the news with a stunning length-of-the-field try for the young Rhinos, collecting the ball from behind his own line and dashing clear, calling to mind his dad’s trademark running style, with head back, chest out and legs pumping like pistons.
He was on England U20s’ radar last term. A couple of Welsh regions were alerted to his availability after he exited the Rhinos, but the Falcons got in first.
Stephens is now making a significant mark, with the youngster giving Dean Richards’ side a cutting edge.
Also in the fans’ selection is former Wales U20s captain and tearaway flanker Tommy Reffell.
The Pencoed product banged in another big game for Leicester Tigers, putting in 15 tackles against Gloucester and bossing the breakdown, never more so than when he produced a crucial penalty turnover at the final ruck to clinch his team’s 33-26 victory.
One social media user touted him as “the most underrated player in the league”, with his breakdown efforts described as “insane”.
Wayne Pivac resisted picking the former Ospreys U16s player for Wales' summer Tests but Reffell is delivering in one of the most competitive leagues in the world and that should count for something.
Gallagher Premiership Team of the Week : George Furbank; Adam Radwan, Joe Marchant, Manu Tuilagi, Iwan Stephens; George Ford, Dan Robson; Ellis Genge, Nic Dolly, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Harry Wells, Ruan Ackermann, Tommy Reffell, Tom Willis.
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