Holland only missed one Test all year and was named World Rugby Men\u2019s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, while England<\/a> back-rower Pollock scored twice on his Test debut in the rout of Wales<\/a> in the final round of the Guinness Six Nations<\/a> in March, a feat matched by new Springbok hooker Marnus van der Merwe<\/a> in their win over Georgia<\/a> in July.<\/p>\n Plenty of others also marked their senior international bows with tries, including van der Merwe\u2019s front-row colleague, Boan Venter<\/a>, in the same match against Georgia.<\/p>\n Liam McConnell might not have crossed the whitewash on his Scotland<\/a> debut with a try in the 85-0 thrashing of the USA, but the back-rower covered virtually every blade of grass on the worn Murrayfield pitch in gaining well over 100 metres of ground.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most impressive debutant, though, given the fact he defied old father time to make it onto the pitch, was Tongan lock Sitaleki Timani<\/a>, who came off the bench in the \u2018Ikale Tahi\u2019s November defeat to Scotland, aged 39. In doing so, the former Wallaby international became the oldest player to debut for a major Test team in the history of the game.<\/p>\n While McConnell was just one of a quartet of players to be blooded by Scotland, Japan<\/a> didn\u2019t hold back in an attempt to unearth more talent capable of competing at RWC 2027. Eddie Jones\u2019 rebuild of Japan started in earnest last year and has rolled over into 2025, with a whole new matchday squad\u2019s worth of players given a first taste of what it takes to play Test rugby.<\/p>\n Four of the 23-strong debutant contingent \u2013 wing Kippei Ishida<\/a>, centre Charlie Lawrence<\/a>, hooker Kenji Sato<\/a> and prop Kenta Kobayashi<\/a> \u2013\u00a0 went on to make nine appearances and look to have become permanent fixtures in the side, while at the other end of the spectrum some disappeared from the Brave Blossoms squad no sooner than they\u2019d arrived. Shuntaro Kitamura<\/a>, for example, is highly-rated and his time will no doubt come, but the scrum-half only had a couple of minutes off the bench in Japan\u2019s first Test of the year against Wales, and was then demoted to Japan XV, the national team\u2019s second string side.<\/p>\n For Harry Hockings<\/a>, another ex-Wallaby to pledge his allegiance to a new Test team, his Japan debut against Wales in November was one to forget after the lock got a 20-minute red card for a high hit on Alex Mann. It will be of little consolation to him that the card was later rescinded by a disciplianry panel.<\/p>\n England\u2019s Cadan Murley<\/a> can sympathise with Hockings. The Quins winger scored a try on his England debut against Ireland<\/a> at the Aviva Stadium in February, but the feel-good factor was undone by a couple of \u2018brain-freeze\u2019 moments in defence, which cost his side and contributed to their only defeat of the year.<\/p>\n Hockings and the aforementioned Tongan veteran, Timani, were not the only players awarded dual international status after debuting for a second Test team in 2025. USA<\/a> handed bows to ex-Scotland wing Rufus McLean<\/a> and former Germany<\/a> fly-half, Christopher Hilsenbeck, and Samoa<\/a> welcomed ex-England playmaker Jacob Umaga<\/a> and veteran Wallaby prop Scott Sio<\/a> into the fold.<\/p>\n Two more Pacific Island nations featured players who had their switch of allegiance rubber-stamped in 2025 \u2013 former All Blacks back-rower Pita Gus Sowakula (Fiji) and former Wales centre\u00a0Willis Halaholo (Tonga).<\/p>\n Looking at the leading contenders for the Webb Ellis Cup, France<\/a> didn\u2019t hold back when it came to introducing new players to the Test arena. Les Bleus handed debuts to no fewer than 18 players, using the three-match series against the All Blacks in July as a testing ground for some of their up-and-coming youngsters.<\/p>\n Much of Fabien Galthie\u2019s focus was on strengthening the front row, with a particular need to fill the tight-head position, too often held by the ageing Uini Atonio<\/a>, who will be 37 in 2027. Clermont\u2019s R\u00e9gis Montagne may have his critics but appears to be the first in line as Atonio\u2019s eventual successor, having featured in all three November internationals.<\/p>\n 2025 Test debutants by RWC country:<\/p>\n ARGENTINA (12): Agustin Moyano<\/a>, Bautista Bernasconi<\/a>, Benjamin Elizalde<\/a>, Benjamin Grondona<\/a>, Boris Wenger<\/a>, Faustino Sanchez Valarolo<\/a>, Geronimo Prisciantelli<\/a>, Nicolas D\u2019Amorim, Nicolas Roger<\/a>, Santiago Pernas<\/a>, Simon Benitez Cruz<\/a>, Tomas Rapetti.<\/p>\n AUSTRALIA (5): Aidan Ross<\/a>, Corey Toole<\/a>, Kalani Thomas<\/a>, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Ryan Lonergan.<\/p>\n CANADA (8): Austin Creighton<\/a>, Barnaby Waddell<\/a>, Brenden Black<\/a>, Jack Shaw<\/a>, James Naylor<\/a>, Kyle Tremblay<\/a>, Morgan Di Nardo<\/a>, Stephen Webb.<\/p>\n CHILE (4): Agusto Villanueva, Emilio Shea<\/a> Duret, Juan Sebastien de Bianchi, Santiago Valenzuela.<\/p>\n ENGLAND (11): Arthur Clark<\/a>, Cadan Murley<\/a>, Charlie Atkinson<\/a>, Gabriel Oghre<\/a>, Guy Pepper<\/a>, Henry Pollock, Joe Carpenter<\/a>, Max Ojomoh<\/a>, Oscar Beard<\/a>, Seb Atkinson, Will Muir.<\/p>\n FIJI (9): Atunaisa Sokobale<\/a>, Etonia Waqa<\/a>, Joji Nasova<\/a>, Motikiai Murray, Pita Gus Sowakula, Salesi Rayesi, Taniela Rakuro<\/a>, Tim Hoyt<\/a>, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.<\/p>\n FRANCE (18): Alexandre Fischer<\/a>, Baptiste Erdocio<\/a>, Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, Giorgi Beria<\/a>, Guillaume Cramont<\/a>, Jacobus Von Tonder, Jimi Maximin<\/a>, Josh Brennan, Julis Segonds, Kalvin Gourgues<\/a>, Matthias Halagahu<\/a>, Maxime Lamothe<\/a>, Paul Mallez<\/a>, Pierre Bochaton<\/a>, Regis Montagne<\/a>, Thibault Daubagna<\/a>, Tom Spring<\/a>, Tyler Duguid.<\/p>\n GEORGIA (7): Bachuki Tchumbadze<\/a>, Dachi Papunashvili<\/a>, Dato Abdushelishvili, Demuri Eprimidze, Iraki Kvatadze, Nikoloz Sutidze, Shalva Aptsiauri.<\/p>\n IRELAND (12): Alex Kendellen<\/a>, Ben Murphy<\/a>, Darragh Murray<\/a>, Hugh Gavin<\/a>, Jack Aungier<\/a>, Jack Boyle<\/a>, Michael Milne<\/a>, Paddy McCarthy<\/a>, Shayne Bolton<\/a>, Thomas Ahern<\/a>, Tom Farrell, Tommy O\u2019Brien.<\/p>\n ITALY (9): David Odiase<\/a>, Edoardo Todaro<\/a>, Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, Luca Rizzoli<\/a>, Mateo Canali, Mirko Belloni<\/a>, Muhamed Hasa<\/a>, Pablo Dimcheff<\/a>, Tommaso Bartolomeo.<\/p>\n JAPAN (23): Akito Okui<\/a>, Charlie Lawrence, Halatoa Vailea<\/a>, Harry Hockings, Haruto Kida<\/a>, Hayate Era<\/a>, Ichigo Nakakusu<\/a>, Kazuma Ueda<\/a>, Kenji Sato<\/a>, Kenta Kobayashi<\/a>, Kippei Ishida, Ryosuke Iwaihara<\/a>, Sam Greene<\/a>, Sena Kimura<\/a>, Shinya Komura<\/a>, Sho Furuhata<\/a>, Shodai Hirao, Shuntaro Kitamura, Tyler Paul<\/a>, Waisake Raratubua, Yota Kamimori<\/a>, Yuki Ikeda<\/a>, Yuya Hirosa.<\/p>\n NEW ZEALAND (9): Brodie McAlister<\/a>, Christian Lio-Willie<\/a>, Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi<\/a>, Fabian Holland<\/a>, Kyle Preston<\/a>, Leroy Carter<\/a>, Ollie Norris<\/a>, Simon Parker<\/a>, Timoci Tavatavanawai.<\/p>\n PORTUGAL (11): Guilherme Vasconcelos<\/a>, Diogo Rodrigues<\/a>, Duarte Nunes<\/a>, Francisco Almeida<\/a>, Guilherme Costa<\/a>, Jose Lavos<\/a>, Luis Lopes<\/a>, Martim Faro<\/a>, Martim Souto<\/a>, Pedro Ferreira<\/a>, Tomas Amado.<\/p>\n ROMANIA (11): Alexandru Harasim, Antonio Mitrea, David Jilaveanu, Iliesa Tiqe, Joji Sikote<\/a>, Kemal Altinok<\/a>, Lukas Mitu<\/a>, Rafael Jilaveanu, Stefan Cojocariu, Toma Mirzac<\/a>, Toni Maftei.<\/p>\n SAMOA (17): Abraham Papali\u2019i<\/a>, Brad Amituanai, Connor Tupai<\/a>, Faletoi Peni<\/a>, Herman Huch<\/a>, Ivan Fepulea\u2019i, Jacob Umaga<\/a>, Jarred Adams<\/a>, Joel Lam<\/a>, Kaynan Siteine-Tua<\/a>, Malaesaili Elato<\/a>, Millennium Sanerivi, Niko Jones<\/a>, Pita Anai Ah-Sue, Potu Leavasa<\/a>, Scott Sio<\/a>, Theodore Steffany.<\/p>\n SCOTLAND (4): Fergus Burke<\/a>, Fin Richardson, Harri Morris<\/a>, Liam McConnell.<\/p>\n SOUTH AFRICA (8): Asenathi Ntlabakanye<\/a>, Boan Venter, Cobus Wiese<\/a>, Ethan Hooker<\/a>, Marnus van der Merwe<\/a>, Neethling Fouche<\/a>, Vincent Tshituka<\/a>, Zachary Porthen.<\/p>\n SPAIN (5): Alejandro Laforga<\/a>, Antonio Suarez, Lucien Richardis<\/a>, Manex Ariceta<\/a>, Yago Fernandez.<\/p>\n TONGA (6): Fatongia Paea<\/a>, Leopino Maupese<\/a>, Sitaleki Timani, Solomone Tukuafu<\/a>, Tali Finau, Willis Halaholo.<\/p>\n URUGUAY (6): Alfonso Perillo<\/a>, Francisco Gonzalez Capdevila<\/a>, Francisco Suarez, Jean Cotarmanach, Justo Ferrario<\/a>, Manuel Rosmarino.<\/p>\n USA (12): Brandon Harvey<\/a>, Chris Hilsenbeck<\/a>, Christian Poidevin<\/a>, Ezekiel Lindenmuth<\/a>, Makeen Alikahn, Maliu Niuafe<\/a>, Marno Redelinghuys<\/a>, Nafi Ma\u2019afu, Rufus McLean<\/a>, Tevita Naqali<\/a>, Tom Pittman<\/a>, Tonga<\/a> Kofe.<\/p>\n WALES (11): Brodie Coghlan<\/a>, Chris Coleman<\/a>, Dan Edwards, Danny Southworth<\/a>, Ellis Mee<\/a>, Harri Deaves<\/a>, Keelan Giles<\/a>, Liam Belcher<\/a>, Morgan Morse<\/a>, Olly Cracknell<\/a>, Reuben Morgan-Williams.<\/p>\n ZIMBABWE (0)<\/p>\n *players ordered alphabetically by christian name\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rugby World Cup 2027 qualified teams handed debuts to well over 200 players this year, with varying degrees…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":333581,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-333580","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-rugby","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333580","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=333580"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/333580\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/333581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=333580"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=333580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Harry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Harry-Hockings-e1766060689496.jpg.webp\")
CARDIFF, WALES \u2013 NOVEMBER 15: Referee Matthew Carley shows a yellow card to Harry Hockings<\/a> of Japan after a TMO Review concludes a dangerous tackle attempt on Alex Mann<\/a> of Wales (not pictured) during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Wales and Japan at Principality Stadium on November 15, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Michael Steele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Ireland](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2245086534.jpg.webp\")
Tommy O\u2019Brien<\/a> of Ireland, right, celebrates with teammate Sam Prendergast<\/a> after scoring their side\u2019s sixth try during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 match between Ireland and Japan at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Shauna Clinton\/Sportsfile via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Ethan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ethan-Hooker-e1766061328510.jpg.webp\")
CARDIFF, WALES \u2013 NOVEMBER 29: Ethan Hooker<\/a> of South Africa<\/a> offloads as he is tackled by Rio Dyer<\/a> of Wales during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Wales and South Africa at Principality Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by David Rogers\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n