Eddie Hearn closes in on another rugby superstar

But who could be next? While there have been no reports linking any of these five players with Matchroom, Hearn seems intent on expanding his rugby interest.

Matchroom was founded by Hearn's father, Barry, in the early 1980s. The company has since played a major role in the growth of boxing, darts and snooker.

Now rugby appears to be firmly in its sights.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Hearn suggested rugby is currently failing to maximise its commercial potential.

"I sit in those rooms with all these big broadcasters that spend billions of dollars a year on sports, and rugby is not spoken about in a very high regard, commercially.

"I know what needs to be done and I don't even think it's that tough a job."

Hearn also revealed he has talks planned with PREM Rugby as he considers taking his involvement in the sport to another level.

"I've got meetings with Prem Rugby in two weeks' time and, after that meeting, I will probably decide whether I'm going to move into rugby or not.

"If we come in, we come in as a partnership with them to blow it up and change the sport forever."

Hearn believes rugby needs to give its biggest stars greater opportunities to maximise their earning potential.

"Now it's time to take the shackles off, take the stabilisers off, and let the players earn their money."

He has also called for the Gallagher PREM salary cap to be scrapped as part of a wider attempt to grow the English game.

With Russell and Pollock already on Matchroom's books, we've picked five rugby stars we'd love to see Hearn sign next.

Few rugby players have the crossover appeal of Louis Rees-Zammit.

After his stint in the NFL, he has returned to rugby union and settled back into life impressively.

The former Wales star has the celebrity status, profile and superstar image that Eddie Hearn would likely want from a Matchroom client, while his ability on the pitch is beyond question.

Hearn has previously explained that financial opportunities were one of the reasons he signed Henry Pollock, and Rees-Zammit has already shown he is willing to explore opportunities outside rugby.

With four tries in his first two Gallagher PREM games this season, the 25-year-old is one of the fastest and most exciting players in the game. That combination makes him an obvious target.

While Caluori is not yet as well known away from rugby, his performances are doing plenty of the talking for him.

The 20-year-old burst onto the scene for Saracens last season, scoring 25 tries across all competitions and earning his first England cap. Fittingly, he marked his international debut with a try.

An outstanding player under the high ball, Caluori already looks capable of building a long career at the top. His exploits last season were even more impressive considering he spent a significant spell dealing with injury.

There is also plenty of personality emerging. His celebrations have become increasingly noticeable, while a growing fanbase has quickly taken to him.

With Saracens entering a new era, Caluori could become one of the club's leading figures. If Hearn is looking for the next young star to build around, he could be worth considering.

It would be no surprise to see Fin Smith eventually join Matchroom.

Fly-half remains arguably the most marketable position in rugby, while Smith already has a strong connection with Hearn's existing client Henry Pollock.

More importantly, he is now England's starting No.10 and is establishing himself as one of the best young fly-halves in the world.

Despite his age, the Northampton Saints star plays with remarkable maturity and has already shown plenty of personality away from the pitch. He is comfortable speaking to the media and has increasingly become one of the faces of English rugby.

The potential is enormous. Smith could become a major England star over the next decade and, with the right branding behind him, someone capable of attracting audiences well beyond the traditional rugby crowd.

The hype around Marcus Smith may not be quite what it was a few years ago, but that does not make him any less marketable.

Even casual sports fans are likely to recognise the Harlequins star, particularly given his continued involvement with England. That profile could make him an attractive proposition for Hearn if the aim is to take rugby to new audiences.

His connections also stretch well beyond the sport. Smith has friendships with high-profile figures in football, including Argentina and Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister, giving him another route into a wider sporting audience.

Although he is no longer viewed as England's undisputed answer at fly-half, Smith remains an incredibly talented and exciting player.

His ability to play at full-back adds another dimension, while his status as a Harlequins talisman gives him a strong platform to build from.

This one might be the biggest wildcard of the lot, but there is something about Alfie Barbeary that makes him feel like a natural Matchroom personality.

The Bath forward is not currently one of the biggest names in English rugby, and his career has arguably been held back by questions over his conditioning and consistency.

His off-field personality, however, has made him increasingly recognisable. Following Bath's Premiership triumph in 2025, videos and pictures of Barbeary partying for weeks afterwards went viral, adding to his reputation as one of rugby's more colourful characters.

That personality could be turned into a genuine asset.

With the right branding, Barbeary could become a major media personality who brings new audiences into rugby.

There are obvious Joe Marler comparisons in terms of character and entertainment value, and Matchroom could be the sort of agency capable of turning that personality into a genuine commercial brand.