2. Gabriel Oghre – The Front-Row Finisher
Age: 27
Club: Bristol Bears
Position: Hooker
Gabriel Oghre’s journey to Test rugby is one of persistence and versatility. After spells with Bath, Wasps, Leicester, and Bordeaux, the Bristol hooker finally earned his England debut in the summer of 2025 — and marked it with a try against the USA.
Oghre’s physicality, mobility, and work rate make him an ideal modern hooker. He brings energy to the set-piece and carries like an extra back-rower in open play.
What Oghre brings to England:
Reliability in the lineout and scrummage
Powerful carries and strong defensive presence
Try-scoring instinct in tight spaces
Experienced head in a young forward pack
Oghre’s debut try was symbolic — a player who waited for his moment and seized it with impact.
3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour – The Prop with Power and Promise
Age: 21
Club: Sale Sharks
Position: Tighthead Prop
Few young props have generated as much excitement as Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Having represented England at U20 and A level, the Sale powerhouse made his full Test debut in the Autumn of 2024 and his first international start during the summer of 2025.
Strong, mobile, and technically precise in the scrum, Opoku-Fordjour has shown maturity beyond his years. He’s already proving he can handle Test-level physicality, which is rare for a player his age in such a demanding position.
What Opoku-Fordjour brings to England:
Exceptional scrummaging strength and stability
High work rate in defence and open play
Potential to anchor England’s scrum for years
Calm temperament under pressure
He’s one of the brightest long-term prospects in English rugby and could become a cornerstone of the pack leading into the 2027 World Cup.
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