With 2025 upon us, Planet Rugby has selected six players who could make their Test debuts for England this year as Steve Borthwick searches for improved results.
Borthwick’s side are undoubtedly in a rebuild, with a large number of players now playing their club rugby across the Channel, but they endured a tough year in 2024. Across the calendar year, England only won five of their 12 Tests, and within that, only two came against Tier One nations. There has also been a dramatic coaching merry-go-round behind the scenes too, with Felix Jones and Aled Walters leaving the set-up.
But, 2025 brings renewed hope for a change in fortunes across the year, and he could also look to draft in a host of fresh faces. But, which players could he draft in? Well, with that thought in mind here are our six players who could make their Test debut this year.
Henry Pollock
The generational Northampton talent is almost certainly going to win his first Test cap this year, but it won’t be a sympathy cap based on his form. Pollock was always highly regarded by the Saints coaching group – particularly director of rugby Phil Dowson – and he has backed that hype up with some standout performances this season both on the flank and at number eight too. Despite his youth, he packs a serious punch in the contact and has that sort of grit and determination you want from your back-row. There is a lot of back-row talent in England right now, but bringing him in could be a brilliant shout by Borthwick.
Alfie Barbeary
Big bopper Alfie Barbeary has returned to top form at just the right moment and that could see him thrust back into the England picture. The Bath back-rower brings heaps of physicality to proceedings, and he crucially has that ability to break the gain-line with virtually every carry. His injury issues have seen him fall down the pecking order a bit, but the way he is going at the moment he deserves some form of England recognition.
Oscar Beard
Harlequins centre Oscar Beard is making himself very hard to ignore at the moment and has been a consistent bright spark in a clunky attack in South West London. He properly burst onto the scene last year, but has only accelerated his progress this season with some fine performances at either 13 or on the wing. It seems that versatility – which is something Borthwick likes his outside backs to have – is making him a better player, as he adds in the skillsets of each position and brings them wherever he plays. You feel an England cap is lying in wait for him at some point this year.
‘I’ll keep banging on the door’ – England omission hopeful on ‘dream’ debut despite autumn snub
Cadan Murley
Harlequins ace Cadan Murley has been banging on the England door for some time now, but 2025 could finally be the year he gets a Test cap. Murley has been bang in form in recent weeks, notching five tries in his past four outings – including a superb brace against Leicester in front of Borthwick. He has that game-breaking ability that could make him a menace at Test level, and he would also add blistering pace to England’s backline too.
Gabriel Ibitoye
Probably the form winger in the Premiership across the past two seasons but still yet to win his first England cap. Ibitoye has been playing some truly breathtaking rugby in recent fixtures, but has blended his clear desire to run with the ball with some decent rugby IQ too, making him even more of a threat. His style of play is something very rarely seen at Test level, which could in itself make him a brilliant international player. His injury could rule him out of contention for the Six Nations, but the Argentina tour is beckoning for the Bristol man.
Tommy Wyatt
Versatile Exeter back has hit the ground running since returning from a serious knee injury, and that could easily see him rewarded with a call-up into the England squad this year. Wyatt, who was playing National League rugby just two years ago, is such a deadly attacking force for the Chiefs, and his reintroduction to their backline has quickly transformed their backline. Wyatt is able to slot in both on the wing and fullback, but his future is probably more in the 15 shirt – timely considering George Furbank could be out of the picture for a while. Either way, it could be a shrewd move by Borthwick to bring him into the squad.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-six-potential-debutants-in-2025-including-generational-talent-and-bath-big-bopper
