#2. Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
They said: “While he was sidelined for long periods last season with injury, he’s returned with a bang and has demonstrated he is a very potent finisher on the near-elite level he showed in 2017 at the World Rugby U20 Championships. Should his electric form continue, he has to be considered for the next England squad.”
Where is he now? The speedster has gone from being involved in an England training camp and tipped by head coach Eddie Jones to be a future superstar to playing in Israel in the space of three seasons. He was also nominated for Junior World Player of the Year in 2018. Ibitoye made the controversial decision to leave Harlequins in 2020, but would be a free agent just a few months later after securing his release by mutual consent.
The 23-year-old, who scored eight tries for England U20, then joined Montpellier as a medical joker but was released without making an appearance in late 2021. After failing to find a club, he signed with Tel Aviv Heat, an Israeli team, in the Rugby Europe Super Cup.