From Munster Schools to Montauban: Charlie Fenton’s Rise Highlights Bottlenecks in Irish Rugby’s Talent Pathway
Just four months ago, Charlie Fenton was lining out for Crescent College in a Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final against Christian Brothers College. A rangy, athletic No.8, his dynamic performance in that game caught the eye. Now, at just 19 years old, he’s signed with US Montauban and is poised to play a significant role in their Top 14 campaign this season. Potentially sharing the pitch with the likes of Thomas Ramos, Gaël Fickou, and Romain Ntamack.
Fenton’s rapid ascent highlights a growing trend: Irish players seeking opportunities abroad that the domestic structure sometimes fails to provide. He will be joining Sam Wisniewski (20), Karl Martin (23), Richie Whelan (20) and Oskar Vitolins (20), among others, who have all come through the Irish system and are now signed with various French clubs, competing across multiple leagues.
A System with Bottlenecks
Ireland’s development system, which is primarily structured around school competitions, provincial academies, and the All-Ireland League (AIL), has long produced top-tier talent. But what happens to those who fall outside its narrow gates?
Once a player misses the academy route, the jump from the AIL into the professional game can be daunting. Even standout performers find the professional door closed. As Cian de Buitléar said after Terenure’s 2023 AIL win:
“There is so much talent still out there in the AIL. The whole year, lads have been going up against academy and pro players — not just tonight but every Saturday.”
And yet, many of those players aren’t being picked up. This is not to blame Leinster at all. Last season, an astounding 45 professional rugby players playing for other provinces came through the Leinster pathway. In terms of space, Leinster's academy bears a resemblance to Searsons after a Six Nations game.
Lessons from France: Talent + Opportunity = Pathway
Contrast this with France, where the system shows far greater flexibility. Look at Mahamadou Diaby, the Bordeaux-Bègles flanker who featured in a Champions Cup final. He was a 15-year-old kickboxer watching the 2007 Rugby World Cup on TV in a tough Paris neighbourhood. With no local rugby club, he walked into Stade Français asking for a trial. They turned him away. Racing 92 gave him a shot. Fourteen years later, he’s at the top level of European rugby.
France identifies and invests in athletic potential, not just polished products. Their clubs provide second, third, and even fourth chances. Ireland’s pathway, in comparison, is often one-and-done.
As one RTE pundit put it:
“They create opportunities for people with physical potential to stay in the game — and that’s scary. Our pathway is very traditional.”
Beyond the Academy Model
The current model — school → academy → professional contract — works for some but ignores many. Ireland needs more entry points. The success of BUCS Rugby (British University Championship) demonstrates a more flexible pathway for young rugby players going to university with no ties to professional clubs, with over 100 players securing professional contracts in the URC or Premiership since the league's inception. The inclusion of Queen’s University Belfast in the Leinster U20 league is a positive step in that direction.
More to be done.
I am unsure how sending an Irish AIL Club XV side, comprising players not affiliated with provinces who have excelled throughout the season, to play Portugal A and winning 50-0 can facilitate talent identification for provinces looking to bring players into their setups. Ultimately, there’s no point in hoarding talent in systems that can’t accommodate them. The best players should be playing at the highest possible level, wherever that may be. It would be great to see Charlie Fenton smash it over in France!