LIST | 5 foreign players who could be capped by England in 2021

Tuesday, 01 December 2020 at 23:56

byRugby Rucker

These five have shown enough ability or promise to suggest they may be future England stars in waiting.

Foreign-born stars, such as Nathan Hughes and the Vunipola brothers, have already shown how integral they can be for the Red Rose after making the step up to International rugby.

Here are five players who could pull on the white jersey in the future:

1. Jono Ross - Sale Sharks (South Africa)

The back-rower has been one of the most consistent performers in the Gallagher Premiership for the last few years. He's been linked with an England call-up for a while now and is eligible due to his grandmother's heritage.

2. Jason Woodward - Gloucester (New Zealand)

The New Zealand‑born full-back who joined Gloucester from Bristol in the summer has already been included in an England training squad. With Eddie Jones revealing he is looking for competition for George Furbank at full-back, Woodward could find himself winning his first full cap at some point in the future.

3. Ratu Naulago - Bristol Bears (Fiji)

The speedster took Super League by storm with Hull RFC, scoring 17 tries in 26 games, before signing with Bristol Bears for the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season. It will be a switch back to union for Naulago, who previously won the Premiership 7s title with Saracens. If he can hit the ground running, he'd be right in the frame for a call-up from Eddie Jones.

4. Cameron Redpath - Bath Rugby (France)

The son of 60-cap Scotland legend Bryan Redpath, centre Cameron was born in Narbonne, France. He was selected in England's 34-man squad for their 2018 tour of South Africa but was unable to travel with the squad because of injury. The 20-year-old, who recently departed Sale Sharks for Bath Rugby, has also represented England U20, scoring three tries in nine appearances.

5. Ruan Ackermann – Gloucester (South Africa)

His Dad Johan Ackermann, who departed as Gloucester boss for Japan last summer, confirmed that his son will be staying with the Cherry & Whites to persue international honours. The imposing number eight, who has already been in contact with Eddie Jones, qualified for England on residency grounds in August 2020.