Rugby is set for another thrilling year, so we delved into some of the players to watch in 2025.
The British and Irish Lions series in Australia is the big event of the year and naturally the focus will be on the battle for places, but it is also worth watching out for a couple of South African youngsters.
Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks dominated in 2024, winning 11 of their 13 matches and claiming the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019, but they remain in a transition period looking ahead to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Sam Prendergast
Leinster’s talented fly-half is in the midst of a breakthrough season for province and country having arguably become first choice pivot for both. Munster’s Jack Crowley may have something to say about that come Six Nations but there is no doubt that Prendergast is starting to look very comfortable at this level and fulfil to immense promise he has always had.
With the British and Irish Lions series also on the horizon, Prendergast will similarly be gunning for that fly-half role knowing that he has an advantage over some of his competitors. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will lead the Lions in Australia and, although the 49-year-old will not be working alongside the youngster in the 2025 Six Nations, he knows what he is about from their time together in the Autumn Nations Series.
Joseph Suaalii
Considering the former rugby league superstar had not played a professional game of rugby union prior to November, the 21-year-old made quite the impression for the Wallabies in the Autumn Nations Series. Suaalii now has a full Super Rugby campaign with the Waratahs to get himself completely attuned to the game before the ultimate target of the Lions series.
12 years ago, it was Israel Folau – another ex-league star – who switched to union and was the big bolter for the 2013 tour. While Suaalii won’t be quite in that category, given that he has already made his mark at Test level, the gifted back is still very new to the game. However, judging by what he has done already, the youngster could quickly become one of the best players in the sport in 2025.
Owen Farrell
Out of England contention after signing for Racing 92 due to the RFU’s laws on foreign-based players, but there is nothing stopping him from being called up to the Lions squad. It has already been confirmed that French-based individuals can be selected by the head coach and that helps Owen’s chances immensely given that it is his father who will lead them down under.
It has not been an easy start to life at Racing for the fly-half, who is currently on the sidelines, and no doubt being out of the international equation will harm his selection hopes, but there no is doubting his quality and his dad will know that better than anybody. There are plenty of options for Andy to choose from but Owen is a known quantity and could well sneak into the squad.
Fraser McReight
One of the Wallabies’ best players in 2024 when fit and will look to build on his outstanding season with the Lions tour looming in July. In all honesty, we wondered whether he lacked the physical presence to be a successful Test player, but he has well and truly proved us wrong. Where McReight was blown off the ball a bit too easily prior to 2024, he has become a solid figure at the breakdown, regularly stealing ball.
The openside has similarly become a useful carrier in the loose while his athletic qualities makes him a superb support player. Australia have a tradition of producing outstanding opensides in the professional era, following on from George Smith, David Pocock and Michael Hooper, and McReight appears to be the latest. He will be crucial if the Wallabies are to upset the Lions.
Dewi Lake
It might not be the accolade it once was, but the hooker was Wales’ best player in 2024 and will be in British and Irish Lions contention. Unfortunately, injury struck late in the year, potentially ruling him out of the entirety of the Six Nations, which could hamper his chances, but Lake surely has enough credit in the bank once he returns for the Ospreys.
Granted, there is some good front-row talent in Britain and Ireland, especially once Dan Sheehan returns, but if there is one Welsh player you would bet on making the 23, it is Lake. Jac Morgan is another potential option, depending on how his 2025 goes, but there are so many options in the back-row that he could conceivably miss out even if he plays well. As a result, the hooker could well be carrying the Welsh flag alone.
Henry Pollock
There has already been plenty of hype around the England age-grade star, who played a key role in them winning the Six Nations and the World Rugby U20 Championship. However, there were concerns that, like the aforementioned McReight, he lacked the size to make an immediate impact in professional rugby. Well, on the early evidence of his transition into seniors, that opinion has aged rather badly.
Pollock may look on the smaller size but his power at close quarters has been impressive, as he demonstrated against the Bulls’ gargantuan pack in Northampton Saints’ recent Champions Cup victory. He is explosive in contact, has managed to make several turnovers at the breakdown and could well find himself in the England – and maybe even Lions – reckoning despite not yet turning 20.
Cameron Hanekom
Speaking of Pollock, he came head-to-head with the impressive Bulls back-rower in their recent clash. As mentioned, the Saints tearaway played well as his side sealed a shock victory, but his 22-year-old opponent arguably took the individual honours after touching down twice in that 30-21 defeat in Pretoria.
Hanekom made his Springboks debut in 2024, appearing in the second period of their final Autumn Nations Series clash against Wales, but we expect him to get far more action for Erasmus’ side in 2025. The youngster has everything in his game to suggest that he can be a top-class player for the Boks. At club level, he has been elite on both sides of the ball, it is just a matter of transferring that onto the Test arena.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
The talented young playmaker will hope that 2025 brings about a bit more fortune after an injury-hit 2024. Even so, despite the significant time he spent on the sidelines, Feinberg-Mngomezulu still had enough games to show his class and be nominated for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Should the 22-year-old rid himself of the physical issues which have tormented him in the latter part of the year then 2025 could be very special indeed.
While the Springboks do not have a huge mid-year series to look forward to due to the British and Irish Lions heading to Australia, they will have a huge challenge in the Rugby Championship when the defending champions face the All Blacks twice on New Zealand soil. Feinberg-Mngomezulu will compete with Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok but, should he be fit and start the encounters, it will be fascinating to see how the Stormers star deals with the pressure.
Sione Tuipulotu
His stocks have risen quite considerably in 2024 after a series of fine performances for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland and could conceivably take the 12 shirt for the Lions. On 2023 form, Bundee Aki would be the shoo-in, while he is also helped by having Farrell as the head coach, but the Ireland star will be 35 by the time of tour.
Age is not necessarily a barrier but it would be a surprise should Aki be at his physical peak come July. By contrast, Tuipulotu is 27 and, judging by his performances over the past 12 months, is approaching his best. He has been exceptional for club and country, and another superb Six Nations would make him the leading contender ahead of the tour down under against the country of his birth.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/nine-players-to-watch-in-2025-ireland-starlet-gunning-for-lions-role-after-breakthrough-year-while-south-african-tearaway-to-become-top-class-springbok
