Young Gun: Tom Smallbone – London Irish prop

London Irish prop Tom Smallbone has been doing more than his fair share of homework this season and hopes it will pay dividends should he step into his mentor's shoes next season.
Smallbone, 19, has been with the Exiles since he was four years old but a shoulder reconstruction sidelined him for much of this season.
Far from dwell on his disappointment however, Smallbone has been juggling his studies as a first-year geography student at Royal Holloway with hours of analysis on scrummaging with England international Alex Corbisiero.
And Smallbone insists he will forever be in Corbisiero's debt having served his apprenticeship under his guidance, but he's adamant he will be ready to fill the void left next season when the England man goes to Northampton.
“It's incredibly frustrating as a young player, going into your first pro season, to have such a long-term injury,” said Smallbone, who has been given a three-year contract extension.
“But you have to get on with it. It was good because it gave me a chance to focus on my degree which took my mind off being injured and then it has been fantastic to work with Alex.
“We've been out injured together and we've spent ages looking at videos, discussing all the looseheads in the Premiership to see how they play and all the tightheads to see what you have to do against them.”
Smallbone, who featured at England U16 and U18 level, has forced his way into the squad for the summer's Junior World Championship in France despite missing the Six Nations.
“That was a real motivating factor for me during rehab,” he added. “I always thought if I could get back before the end of the season and prove myself then I'd have a chance.”
His shoulder problem – sustained in scrummaging practice against Tongan tighthead Leo Halavatau – means Smallbone is yet to feature for Irish this season but he did enough to show his fitness while on loan at Richmond.
He had returned for the end of the campaign to help Richmond survive in National One but now he's setting about forging his career with Irish, his boyhood club. “It was a real no-brainer when I got the offer of a new contract,” he said. “It was a big show of confidence for me after my injury and a big boost.
“I've been with the club since I was four so I no desire to go anywhere else.
“Irish was the nearest club for me and I got involved with a few mates so it was something I enjoyed doing.
“It is a good set-up and they implement a tiered system when you start from bronze and work your way up to gold. Just getting through into the top group the training is more intense and you get a feel for what the professional game is like.
“There are a lot of players moving on from Irish next season and a lot coming in but I want to lay down a marker and get as much game time as I possibly can next season.”