Exciting to see how far George can go in a year
The Rugby Paper|December 27, 2020
Kyran Bracken unveils his big challenge for 2021 – to turn Wanstead scrum-half George Hardy, 28, into a professional in 12 months
Exciting to see how far George can go in a year

For me there is every reason to look forward to 2021 and it starts with the huge challenge of trying to help an amateur player, George Hardy, make the leap to the professional game within 12 months.

George has made an impression on me at Wanstead RFC that few in the game I have worked with or watched have. You would have to go back more than 20 years to the last time I recommended a player to a club for them to take a serious look at.

Only twice have I tipped a club about a player. On those occasions, they were Rob Thirlby and Danny Grewcock to Saracens, so hopefully, George can make it three out of three.

The fact he spent six years out of the game is one of the reasons I think he can make it; from the first two training sessions at Wanstead, I attended I could identity the ability he had and the potential he has. Wanstead were in London 2 North East last season but he can play at a far higher level and who knows where he could be in 12 months’ time?

I was brought down to Wanstead by my co-coach at St Albans School, Jeremy Walmsley – a New Zealander who loves his rugby – whom I have worked with for three or four years. Jeremy has been at Wanstead since May. He brought me in soon after and we started doing some socially distanced coaching in the summer. There is a nice, tight-knit feeling among the squad.

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