Next Richie McCaw: Five Exciting England Talents to Watch This Autumn

Tuesday, 14 October 2025 at 19:59

byRugby Rucker

As England Rugby prepares for the Autumn internationals, a new generation of players is ready to make their mark on the Test stage.

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The 2025 summer tour gave fans a glimpse of the future — a group of hungry, athletic, and technically gifted stars ready to push established names for places.

Here are five exciting England talents to watch this Autumn:

1. Guy Pepper – The Dynamic Back-Row Catalyst

Age: 22
Club: Bath Rugby
Position: Flanker

Guy Pepper is one of the most talked-about names in English rugby right now. The Bath flanker had a breakout 2024–25 season, producing a Player-of-the-Match performance in the Premiership final before earning his first senior England caps on the summer tour.

Pepper started in the second Test against Argentina and impressed with his relentless tackling, high work rate, and fearless breakdown contests. His performances showed he’s more than a prospect — he’s already Test-ready.

What Pepper brings to England:

Explosive ball-carrying and line-break threat
Turnover skills and dominance at the breakdown
Tireless defensive work rate
Leadership potential despite his young age

Pepper embodies the next wave of England forwards: athletic, technically sharp, and confident under pressure.

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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.

4. Seb Atkinson – The Natural Inside Centre England Have Needed

Age: 22
Club: Gloucester Rugby
Position: Inside Centre (No. 12)

Seb Atkinson has quietly emerged as one of England’s most promising midfielders. After a strong season with Gloucester, he earned his first England cap in the 2025 summer tour of Argentina — and looked immediately comfortable at Test level.

Atkinson is a genuine inside centre, combining strength in contact with crisp passing and intelligent decision-making. England has long sought a natural No. 12, and Atkinson’s performances suggest he could be the long-term solution.

What Atkinson brings to England:

True playmaking ability from the inside-centre channel
Balanced defence and attack contributions
Excellent fitness and consistency across 80 minutes
Confidence and composure on the international stage

He’s not flashy, but he’s efficient — the kind of player who makes those around him better.

5. Max Ojomoh – The Creative Midfield Maestro

Age: 25
Club: Bath Rugby
Position: Inside Centre / Fly-Half

Max Ojomoh, son of former England forward Steve Ojomoh, is another Bath player enjoying a breakthrough year. A key figure in Bath’s treble-winning 2024–25 campaign, Ojomoh capped off his season with a Test debut against the USA.

Technically gifted, Ojomoh is known for his vision, footwork, and distribution. His ability to play both centre and fly-half gives England valuable tactical flexibility. He reads the game brilliantly and adds attacking shape wherever he plays.

What Ojomoh brings to England: