England
Henry Pollock has had a breakout career. The youngster who has primarily played his rugby as a flanker, but can also play as an 8.
Still only 20, the Northampton Saints man has already made the jump from academy prospect to international force.
Born in Oxfordshire, England, Pollock joined the Northampton Saints Academy at 13 and made his senior club debut in 2022 at age 17.
After helping England U20s win the 2024 Six Nations and World Cup, he made his senior England debut in the 2025 Six Nations, scoring two tries against Wales.
He is known for his high work rate and ability to play across the back row, particularly at open side flanker. Pollock also comes across as for being an energetic, confident, and “annoying” player for opponents to deal with.
Pollock doesn’t just look like the future, he looks like the he’s ready to take the tournament to storm now. Keep watching.
France
Antoine Dupont is arguably the best player in the world right now. France are the tournament favourites, and Dupont is the sole reason for this.
The Toulouse scrum-half has absolutely everything in his locker and is one of the most technically gifted rugby players of all time.
He is the first and only rugby player ever to have won both the Men’s 15s and the Men’s Sevens World Rugby Player of the Year awards.
The considerable amount of talent in the French squad doesn’t go unnoticed, but it is hard to look past Dupont as the player to watch for ‘Les Bleus’.
Ireland
James Lowe is one of the best wingers in rugby and despite being originally born in New Zealand, he has been adopted into the Irish national team and has established himself as one of their most important players.
Lowe made his name with the Chiefs and the Māori All Blacks before moving to Leinster in 2017, where he quickly became a key attacking force and a fans favourite.
In November 2024, he was named in the 2024 World Rugby Dream Team of the Year.
If Ireland are to have any success in this year’s Six Nation’s, Lowe will have to be on top form, and is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Scotland
Finn Russell will continue to captain Scotland this tournament and whilst we’re spoilt for choice with selection, Russell stands out.
The 33-year-old plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Bath, having joined them in 2023.
Russell has been described as one of Scotland’s greatest-ever players and among the best players in the world. He makes the game unpredictable with his flair, playmaking ability or ice cool precision.
For any football fans out there, He has been styled as “the Messi of rugby”.
Wales
Tomas Williams is one of the most influential scrum-halves in European rugby — a play-maker whose quick thinking, sharp passing and attacking instinct can change a game in an instant.
Williams was a Cardiff academy graduate and went onto to play for them for 10 years.
He left Cardiff to join English side Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby from the 2024–25 season. Following his first season at the club, he won the Premiership Rugby Player of the Season award.
As underdogs, Wales will need to work around him, which means he will get plenty of touches on the ball and potentially need to force things a bit to make magic happen.
Italy
Tommaso Menoncello is one of the brightest young centres in world rugby — a powerful, skilful and explosive attacking force who has quickly become the face of Italy’s midfield.
The 23-year-old plays for Benetton in the United Rugby Championship and has already earned over 30 caps for Italy.
In the 2022 Six Nations Championship, he scored a try and became the youngest try-scorer in the history of the tournament, at the age of 19 years and 170 days.
He also won the Six Nations Player of the Tournament in 2024 and becoming the youngest player to do so, at only 21 years old. Certainly one to keep an eye on.
