As England build towards the Six Nations, attention is turning to the next wave of talent pushing for Test honours. Injuries, form swings and positional gaps could open the door for fresh faces, and several uncapped players are closer than ever to breaking through.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
From explosive backs to dynamic forwards, here are five rising stars who might earn their first England caps this spring.
1 Emeka Ilione
Tigers back-rower Emeka Ilione recently signed a new deal with Leicester, and there’s growing belief that an England call-up might not be far away.
The Mansfield-born forward is balancing professional rugby with medical studies, a feat made even more impressive considering he was sidelined just days after being invited to a three-day England training camp in October. That setback ended any hope of featuring in the Quilter Nations Series.
Despite this, Steve Borthwick has been full of praise for Ilione, particularly highlighting his world-class jackalling. If he can stay fit and continue his trajectory, an England debut feels like a matter of time.
2 Noah Caluori
At just 19, Saracens winger Noah Caluori has quickly emerged as one of the brightest young talents in English rugby.
Standing 6’4″ and weighing 100kg, he brings a rare mix of athleticism and aerial dominance, making him a genuine threat in the back three. His breakthrough performance against Sale Sharks put him firmly on the radar, earning him a fast-tracked place in England training camps.
He hasn’t been capped yet, but the message is clear: England rate him highly. With his physical profile and skillset tailor-made for Test rugby—especially the aerial battle—it feels like only a matter of time before he pulls on the white shirt.
Like this:
Like Loading…