Denny Solomona: Sale Sharks wing 'good enough for England', says Ugo Monye

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments217

Denny Solomona
Summer British and Irish Lions Tests in the southern hemisphere could provide a "perfect opportunity" for Solomona to "cut his teeth"

Former England winger Ugo Monye believes Denny Solomona has a good chance of playing for the national team when he becomes eligible.

New Zealand-born Solomona, 23, will be available for Eddie Jones' side later this year after playing in England for the past 36 months.

He left rugby league when he switched codes to join Sale Sharks in December.

"He's scoring better than anyone in recent times. He's a revelation," Monye told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Is he good enough for England, based on what I've seen? Most definitely.

"The beauty of English rugby at the moment means we've got so many quality players and out of nowhere in the few months we've unearthed another potential international. It's a fantastic position for Eddie Jones to be in."

Solomona won a rugby league cap for Samoa last year, but that would not affect him meeting residency criteria for the 15-a-side code.

After successful spells with London Broncos and Castleford Tigers, including a record-breaking 40 tries in a single season, Solomona has caught the eye since joining Sale with seven tries in five Premiership games.

"He's a natural-born finisher, his try against Northampton was the best finish you'll see from any winger this season," said Monye, who believes the British and Irish Lions summer Tests in New Zealand and Argentina could be a good way to introduce Solomona to international rugby.

Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond has echoed Monye's thought, saying that Solomona has the "world at his feet".

Diamond added: "He understands the game. His spell in rugby league did him no harm. He got his basic skills up and comes to the party a top-drawer professional. I'd be looking at him if I was Eddie Jones."

Solomona's departure from Cas was acrimonious and the Super League club are taking legal action against the player, his agent and Sale.

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217 comments

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 13:38 21 Feb 2017

    @16 To highlight how flawed your point is and wrong you are I'm going to drag out an old favourite of mine. An article from the incredibly pro-English Wales Online, showing the number of foreign born players in each nations squads. England are joint 4th lowest with only 3.

    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/fascinating-rugby-world-cup-stats-10052033

  • Comment posted by leftrightleftright, at 13:19 21 Feb 2017

    @9
    much like most of the Welsh team who weren't born in Wales!!! BOOM

  • Comment posted by TheLastKingOfEngland, at 13:35 21 Feb 2017

    @16 Last time I checked Beacon College, one of Hartley's school, was in East Sussex. Alex Cuthbert's, on the other hand, first experience of Welsh education was at University level. OK many Welsh supporters wish he didn't play for Wales, and in all honesty he wouldn't get into any of the other national sides, but you're still playing double standards as an excuse to have a go at the English.

  • Comment posted by milkonesugar, at 13:34 21 Feb 2017

    'The lion's tour would be a good way to introduce him to international rugby'?..... That's not insulting at all then! A lion's tour shouldn't be any nations player development program! I happen to like RL but no unproven overseas code changer should be allowed to saunter into the lions at the expense of a union player who has been representing his union and nation either IMO

  • Comment posted by Cricket1, at 13:32 21 Feb 2017

    anyone else worried about the amount of oversea players joining our league? are we becoming like the football? I mean Teams like Newcastle falcons who have already have a load of oversea players in their squad and have just announce 3 more oversea signings for next season and then there is Leicester tigers who starting line up on Saturday looked like a Foreign Legion will it effect England?

  • Comment posted by Andy Elaine, at 16:36 21 Feb 2017

    91. Walesforever1 "Despite a population of 55m England rugby are unable to field a team of Englishmen."

    Not only did Wales have more foreign born players than anyone else at the last RWC they had more English players than England had foreign born players in total.

    The WRU run a programme specifically designed to poach English players. http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/38152.php#.WKxsEjFvhjo

  • Comment posted by Rob, at 13:25 21 Feb 2017

    We have to put an end to all this residency nonsense. He's not English. The rule needs to recognise people who come here as kids but not as mercenaries. The Irish budget for 'project' players is a disgrace. How about: Qualify via 3 year residency before you are 16 years old. That would nip this in the bud whilst allowing for kids who move with their parents to represent the country they live in.

  • Comment posted by Jengibre, at 13:25 21 Feb 2017

    Got to say it is way too early IMO to select him for England or the Lions. I hope they RFU bring in the 5 year residency before he gets picked.

    However this HYS will be a joy to read as all the blind fans will get a chance to air their grievances against England and ignore the fact that their own nation has talent born overseas (or South/East of the border).

    The hypocrisy HYS

  • Comment posted by TheFridge, at 19:32 21 Feb 2017

    I'd rather English wingers get picked ahead of him, this policy is seriously unfair and unjust on genuinely English players who have worked hard their whole life to represent their country.

    I'd rather be a bad team full of English players than a good one full of foreign players with absolutely no connection to this country other than they have lived here for 3 years.

  • Comment posted by Bill T, at 13:54 21 Feb 2017

    @36 Having to be born in the country you play for is too harsh imo. I wasn't born in England but both of my parents are English as am I. I was born in Germany because my dad was serving in the RAF over there. I moved to England at 3 years old. I'm not good enough for international rugby but if I was I would only play for England and certainly not ze Germans.

  • Comment posted by U14979412, at 13:45 21 Feb 2017

    I see the Welsh trolls are out in full force again condemning England, when the reality is half of their team are either from overseas originally or are English! For the benefit of the Welsh trolls though, let's just ignore the facts because it'll help you sleep better at night...

  • Comment posted by Justin150, at 14:03 21 Feb 2017

    #34 You're missing out the likes of Rokoguduni, Hughes, Hartley, Te'o, Yarde.

    Roko joined the British army and served which in my book should be enough to qualify
    Hughes: fair call
    Hartley: qualifies through English mum
    Te'o qualifies through English mum
    Yarde: moved here when 9 (so 15 yrs residency!) and learned his rugby in England
    Try some research before putting together such a list

  • Comment posted by magicdarkshadow2, at 13:15 21 Feb 2017

    @1 Lots of league players have also failed in union in recent years. He like other successful code switchers is a great footballer whether he's in league or union. The best can thrive in both.

    The question of whether he should play for England. Under current rules, there's nothing to stop him. But I do feel the RFU should only pick adult residency players after 5 years residency rather than 3.

  • Comment posted by DickythePig, at 18:45 21 Feb 2017

    Anyone want to mention Shane Howarth to the moron that goes by the name of Walesforever1? WRU lied about his eligibility to play for Wales and he had previously represented his real home country of NZ. Something about throwing stones and glass houses.......Anglophobic idiot.

  • Comment posted by U16652371, at 17:14 21 Feb 2017

    Walesforever probably never seen a club rugby game in his life and after the 6 nations will go back to supporting Manchester United.

  • Comment posted by U16645068, at 16:50 21 Feb 2017

    @91 Wailslikeachild1

    Glad to see you back on HYS.
    Have you only just finished crying about losing to the "England South Sea XV"?
    Nice to see you've still got your daffodil tinted glasses on.
    Can't wait for your next incisive anti English comment.
    It's not the 70's anymore, deal with it!

  • Comment posted by Cricket1, at 16:12 21 Feb 2017

    @ Walesforever1

    England B team vs Scotland this weekend

  • Comment posted by U15647195, at 14:41 21 Feb 2017

    England winning try v Wales :-poor kick from JD born Solihull fielded by Ford born Wigan passed to Farrell born Wigan who passed to Daly from London who ran round Cuthbert from Gloucester.Point everybody does it half the Scots side is none Scottish go through every international side does it if you tightened up on eligibility then a lot of mediocre sides would suffer but I bet England won't.

  • Comment posted by U3246151, at 17:34 21 Feb 2017

    114 LKOE

    I only just got round to seeing the Wales v England game last night. Having read the Fordyce report abroad I got the impression that England had spent 75 minutes under the cosh and had sneaked a lucky win.

    In fact it was very even. Wales' back row were better as expected but England were slicker out wide. Each team won two quarters. The difference was that England scored in theirs!

  • Comment posted by Opportunity Locks, at 14:51 21 Feb 2017

    65

    If 'all' the Welsh were born near to each other, then you would have thought they would be an incredibly tight unit with the talent,skills ,desire and passion to beat England in their annual CUP FINAL. If you add in the traditional anti-anything English then it's a sad indictment that they still couldn't beat England,even at home. Must be the English who are more passionate.

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