Top 14 will speed my progress says Gaby

GABY IBITOYE raised more than a few eyebrows in the summer when he signed a two-year deal to swap Harlequins for Top 14 side, Agen, with suggestions he was gambling on his international future.

- NEIL FISSLER

Ibitoye, 22, however, is level headed enough to know that he is in a queue of wingers behind the likes of the Jack Nowell, Jonny May, Anthony Watson, Ollie Thorley and his former Quins team-mate Nathan Earle for England caps.

And he believes a two-year stint in the Top 14 will improve his game rapidly enough to accelerate his progression into the international ranks when he does come back to the Premiership.

“Everyone had an opinion when I left, but I’m not too fussed about what other people think,” Ibitoye told The Rugby Paper. “Thanks to my agents, I think I made the right decision for me. It was an opportunity to play in one of the best league’s in the world.

“I’m a young player still developing, so I thought I’d make the most of it. I’ve always wanted to play abroad, so why not now?

“It doesn’t matter if I was playing here, England or New Zealand, Eddie Jones watches a lot of games, so he will know if I’m playing well or not.