What does 2026 look like for the Top 5 Breakout stars of 2025? - Ruck
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What does 2026 look like for the Top 5 Breakout stars of 2025?

16 December 2025
Tom Sansom

With only a couple of weeks left in the 2025 calendar year, we are steadily approaching the start of a fresh slate in 2026. It has been another whirlwind year across the global rugby landscape and the following five talents have had a definite season to remember.

As we come up to the end of the year, we decided to once again dust off RUCK’s crystal ball for a sneak preview towards what is coming in over the horizon. In this article, we take a look at five of the break-out names from the past 12 months, and try our hand at predicting what 2026 has in store for this quintet of talents. Make no mistake about it, the future looks bright for these five break-out stars.

1. Fabian Holland (New Zealand, Highlanders & Otago)

If 2025 was about arrival, then 2026 looms as the year Fabian Holland cements himself as a pillar of the All Blacks pack after being crowned World Rugby Breakout Player of the Year. Holland’s rise was rapid, yet never felt rushed. After cutting his teeth with the All Blacks XV against the Barbarians and Georgia, the then-uncapped lock was thrown straight into the deep end for the July Test series against France.

What followed was a statement introduction to Test rugby. Three starts, three 80-minute shifts and a senior debut at Forsyth Barr Stadium — home of his beloved Highlanders and Otago — made for a near-perfect opening chapter. Calm under pressure, relentless at the breakdown and already authoritative at the lineout, Holland looked every inch an international lock from day one.

The Rugby Championship demanded even more. A shoulder injury to captain Scott Barrett forced Holland to step up, jostling with Tupou Vaa’i for the right to partner the skipper in the engine room once the Crusaders man returned to action. When Barrett returned, Holland didn’t fade — and when Barrett was sidelined with a leg laceration during the Autumn Series, the 23-year-old answered the call once more.

While he missed out on any game-time during the defeat to England, Holland started in wins over Ireland, Scotland and Wales, underlining the trust already placed in him by the All Blacks hierarchy. World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year award merely formalised what had become obvious: Holland had gone from prospect to frontline operator in a single season.

Looking ahead to 2026, the challenge shifts from emergence to consolidation. With Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock now long gone from the All Blacks fold, second-row picture is evolving with Holland now central to it. Expect him to enter the year not as cover, but as a genuine first-choice lock, with leadership responsibilities for New Zealand’s northern rivals to contend with in the all new Nations Championship. Should Holland keep injury free, we anticipate this meteoric rise to continue, as he steadily becomes the second in command to Scott Barrett within the All Blacks’ engine room.

2. Braxton Sorensen-McGee (New Zealand & Blues)

If 2025 was about making a statement, then Braxton Sorensen-McGee made the kind of statement few players ever manage in their first year of international rugby. The 19-year-old flyer exploded onto the elite stage, combining her domestic dominance in Super Rugby Aupiki with an electrifying Black Ferns debut and a historic run at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Sorensen-McGee’s rise began with the Blues Women in Super Rugby Aupiki, where she played a pivotal role in retaining their 2025 title. Whilst Sorensen-McGee provided plenty of awe-inspiring moments for the Auckland side, a landmark score was the 80m intercept try against Matatū along the Blues’ road to the final. The versatile back-three star then helped guide her side to victory in the inaugural Super Rugby Women’s Champions final, defeating Australia’s Super W champions NSW Waratahs with authority.

The Pacific Four Series then offered Sorensen-McGee her first taste of Test rugby for New Zealand, and she delivered immediately, scoring two tries on debut against Australia in a 38–12 victory back in May. Her combination of speed, elusiveness, and decision-making made her a constant threat in the Black Ferns back three, earning her a starting berth for the remainder of the series and cementing her as one of the team’s key attacking weapons ahead of the World Cup trip to England.

Then came the showpiece event, where Sorensen-McGee truly announced herself to the world. Finishing as the tournament’s top try scorer with 11 tries, the enigmatic outside back also bagged multiple hat-tricks and led in total points with 69. Soresen-McGee starred all the way from the pool stage through to the the Bronze Final against France, where she scored twice in a 42–26 victory at Allianz Stadium.

From Super Rugby sensation to World Cup star in a single calendar year, Sorensen-McGee’s blend of speed, skill, and consistency made her an undeniable choice for the 2025 World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Heading into 2026, expect her to carry this momentum into another season of elite performance for both the Blues and the Black Ferns.

We expect to see Sorensen-McGee back headlining the Black Ferns outside channels having officially taken the torch on from retiring legend of the game Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. With the Pacific Four Series beckonning for a marquee clash with Canada, and a revamped WXV Global Series set to commence a new era for the women’s international game, Soresen-McGee will have ample opportunities to take centre stage for the women in black as she stamps her mark upon the wing once more.

3. Henry Pollock (England & Northampton Saints)

If 2025 was the year Henry Pollock announced himself on the global stage, then the 2026 season will be the year he consolidates that rise. The bleach-blonde dynamo went from England U20 standout to senior Test try-scorer in a matter of weeks, as he hit the ground running with two tries on his international debut against Wales at the Principality Stadium, to close out the final round of the 2025 Six Nations.

Pollock’s rapid ascent has been a combination of raw athleticism, swagger, flair, and a relentless work-rate that makes him one of the most exciting young back-row talents in world rugby. Love him or loathe him, rugby fans agree that Pollock was hard done by to miss out on the World Rugby Breakout Player of the Year Award, after making the end of year short-list as the sole representative from the Gallagher PREM.

Pollock’s club form for Northampton Saints was equally eye-catching. Whilst the green, black, and gold’s had an underwhelming league campaign, Pollock and his team excelled across the Investec Champions Cup front, as the Saints reached a thrilling final in Cardiff against Bordeaux-Bègles. Pollock’s standout performance came in the semi-final against European powerhouse Leinster at the Aviva Stadium, where he scored a stunning breakaway try and his defensive work belied his youth.

His distinctive try celebrations — including the iconic basketball shot and ‘check the pulse’ routines — quickly became viral sensations across the rugby community, with Pollock’s personality showcased upon the biggest stages. Pollock’s rapid rise continued, as the Summer saw him selected as the youngest member of the 2025 British & Irish Lions, with Andy Farrell entrusting the then 19-year-old with the ceremonial ‘Bil the Lion’ duties.

Pollock made his Lions Test debut in the send-off defeat to Argentina at the Aviva Stadium, then starred in the mid-week tour matches across Australia, including a memorable clash with Seru Uru during the narrow win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV.

Returning to England for the Autumn Series, Pollock continued to impress with four off-the-bench appearances, including a try against Australia, as Steve Borthwick’s men swept the series. Heading into 2026, Pollock is expected to push for a regular starting spot in the England XV, cementing himself as one of the key candidates to lead the back row into the 2027 Rugby World Cup as Steve Borthwick starts to look to the future with the pool draw confirmed .

4. Ethan Hooker (South Africa & Hollywoodbets Sharks)

Ethan Hooker’s 2025 season was nothing short of a coming-of-age campaign, as the 22-year-old emerged as one of South Africa’s most dynamic and versatile backs. At club level, Hooker starred for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the United Rugby Championship, operating primarily across the wing yet also starring in the centres.

Hooker’s rise at club level translated seamlessly to the international stage. He made his Springbok Test debut on 12 July 2025 against Italy in Gqeberha and quickly earned his first Test start against New Zealand in Wellington, helping the Springboks secure famous record victory on All Blacks soil.

Across the Rugby Championship, Hooker featured consistently, contributing to South Africa’s title-winning campaign with defensive solidity, clean breaks, and try-scoring prowess. In the Autumn Series, he added to his growing Test resume, crossing for tries against Italy and Wales and accumulating eight caps in his debut year. Coaches and teammates alike praised his composure, decision-making, and aerial ability, highlighting his rapid adaptation to the intensity of international rugby.

Looking to 2026, Hooker is set to become a cornerstone of Rassie Erasmus’ back line plans, offering versatility across wing and in the midfield births. With the Springboks prioritising a summer series against the All Blacks and the inaugural Nations Championship, the Hooker’s skill set will be critical in what will be a packed fixture list for the men in green and gold.

At the Sharks, Hooker will continue to drive their URC and European ambitions, potentially spearheading another Challenge Cup campaign as the Sharks have already begun to sink down their respective Champions Cup pool. Hooker’s combination of pace, power, and tactical intelligence positions him as a breakout star with a crucial role to play in South African rugby’s next chapter.

5. Joseph Akuso-Sua’ali’i (Australia & NSW Waratahs)

Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii’s 2025 season was a remarkable statement of intent, marking him as one of rugby union’s most exciting young talents in the lead up to a home hosted Rugby World Cup for the Wallabies in 2027. Transitioning from rugby league back in 2024, the 22-year-old Australian fullback adapted rapidly to the demands of Super Rugby Pacific with the NSW Waratahs, with plaudits rained upon raw athleticism, game-readership, and line-breaking ability.

Suaalii debuted for the Waratahs at fullback, in a tense 37‑36 win over the Highlanders, which immediately demonstrated his ability to impact games with clean footwork, aerial prowess, and above all else, physicality. Despite a mid-season jaw fracture that sidelined him for a few weeks through February and March, Sua’ali’i’s resilience allowed him to return stronger, as he cemented his reputation as a dynamic attacking weapon in the Waratahs’ back three.

Suaalii’s rise continued on the international stage, as he was a key figure for the Wallabies throughout 2025. Already familiar with Test rugby union from his late‑2024 debut, he started all three matches in the British & Irish Lions series and the proceeding warm-up test against Fiji. Sua’ali’i was a constant thorn in the Lions’ side thanks to his devastating offload game, as he starred throughout the test match trilogy.

Sua’ali’i then carried that momentum into the Rugby Championship, crossing for tries in notable wins over South Africa and Argentina, while consistently creating attacking opportunities and demonstrating exceptional vision and pace. Across the year, he earned 14 Wallabies Test caps in an arduous 2025, in a significant tally for a player in his first full professional 12-months of rugby union.

Looking to 2026, the former Sydney Roosters man is expected to cement himself as a first-choice back three or midfield option for Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies. Simialr to Ethan Hooker’s effective versatility across the midfield and back-three, Sua’ali’i will be central to Australia’s preparations for the 2026 Test campaigns and beyond, while continuing to develop at the Waratahs.

Suaalii’s seamless code transition and immediate impact at the highest level underline why he was a standout Breakthrough Player of 2025, and rightfully shortlisted for World Rugby’s newcomer award. The 22-year-old has all the potential in the world, and he is primed to be a cornerstone of Australian rugby for years to come.

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