
As we gear up for the thrilling Six Nations Championship, we spotlight standout players from each participating nation poised to leave their mark in 2025. Discover the top talents to watch, as analyzed by Opta Analyst.
Watch for Sam Prendergast: Ireland’s Next Fly-Half Star
Ireland
The iconic Ireland No. 10 jersey has historically been dominated by legends such as Ronan O’Gara and Johnny Sexton. While many contenders have attempted to claim this prestigious position, few have succeeded, as they awaited the eventual retirement of these rugby greats.
With Sexton’s retirement following Ireland’s unexpected exit from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, an unusual opportunity has emerged for aspiring out-halves:
Position available: Ireland out-half. Must excel under immense pressure and possess an unyielding drive for victory. Experience with match-winning drop-goals is a significant advantage. No time wasters need apply…
Since O’Gara’s last appearance in the No. 10 shirt in 2011, a total of nine players have stepped into the fly-half role for Ireland up until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Notably, Sexton has dominated with an impressive 92 starts, representing 68% of the total. Others who have taken their shot include: Paddy Jackson (14), Joey Carbery (12), Ian Madigan (6), Ross Byrne (4), Jack Crowley (3), Billy Burns (2), Jack Carty (2), and Ian Keatley (1).
After Sexton’s departure, Jack Crowley seemed to be the frontrunner, having secured nine consecutive starts. However, Sam Prendergast emerged as a serious contender during the autumn matches. Given the historical significance of the No. 10 shirt, whoever stakes their claim now may become the long-term custodian of this crucial position.
Playing for Leinster, Prendergast showcased his remarkable talent during the autumn internationals, contributing just 154 minutes of play while demonstrating his capability to attack the gainline effectively and create opportunities for his teammates.
He registered an impressive seven line break assists, nearly doubling the tally of any other player from all teams in the Autumn Nations Series, where four players tied at four assists.

Moreover, despite facing only nine tackles, Prendergast skillfully evaded two-thirds of those attempts, showcasing an impressive tackle evasion rate. Remarkably, only Antoine Dupont (71%) outperformed him among players who faced a similar number of tackles, illustrating that he is in elite company.
Noah Nene: Emerging Center for France with Star Potential
France
Fabien Galthié has revealed an impressive squad ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 Six Nations, although adjustments are expected before the tournament kicks off. Among the exciting initial selections are six uncapped players, featuring four forwards and two dynamic backs.
One of the standout talents is Noah Nene, a center who has been dazzling in the PRO D2 for Dax, while Gaël Dréan has impressed as a winger for Toulon in the TOP 14.
While Dréan has made headlines as the joint-top try scorer in the TOP 14 this season with ten tries, our focus shifts to the promising 20-year-old Nene, who is undoubtedly a rising star.
Among the 505 players logging over 240 minutes in the PRO D2 this season, Nene is the only one averaging more than 50 post-contact meters every 80 minutes, with a remarkable rate of 61 meters.
Additionally, he leads the league in overall meters carried per 80 minutes (110) and ranks second in both breaks per 80 (1.6) and defenders beaten per 80 (6.3). It’s evident that he has been a force to reckon with throughout the 2024-25 season.

Although Nene participated in the 2024 U20 Six Nations, his contributions were limited to a brief 15-minute appearance against Ireland. Currently on loan at Dax from Stade Français, his parent club is undoubtedly monitoring his progress closely. With Stade Français struggling in 13th place in the TOP 14, they will likely be eager to bring him back to Paris as soon as possible.
Marshall Sykes: Scotland’s Lock with a Growing Reputation
Scotland
Marshall Sykes stands out as one of five locks included in Gregor Townsend’s 2025 Six Nations squad, a position known for its fierce competition within Scotland. At just 25 years old, Sykes is not a newcomer, but he has matured into a formidable player this season.
Last season, Sykes faced challenges in securing starting positions in the URC, with only two of his 18 appearances as a starter, averaging a modest 28 minutes per match. However, this season, he has stepped up significantly, starting seven of nine matches and averaging 58 minutes per appearance.
With relentless tackling being a hallmark of Scottish rugby lately, exemplified by players like Jack Dempsey, Hamish Watson, and the Gray brothers, Sykes has embraced this tradition. He stands out with an impressive tally of 13 dominant tackles, placing him just behind Teddy Williams (14) for most in the URC this season.
At 6-foot-7, Sykes is also a valuable lineout option, having won 20 lineouts, although he ranks behind Grant Gilchrist (29) and Jamie Ritchie (29) as Edinburgh’s primary targets.
Moreover, Sykes contributes significantly at the breakdown, having engaged in more rucks than any other Edinburgh player this season (187), effectively participating in 81% of the attacking rucks he engages in.

It remains to be seen whether Townsend will utilize Sykes as a dynamic impact substitute—similar to his role at the club level last season—or grant him a starting position. Regardless, his presence adds essential depth and versatility to Scotland’s forward pack.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour: England’s Promising Prop on the Rise
England
England’s front-row is currently undergoing a significant transition. With veteran players like Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler, and Mako Vunipola stepping away from the international stage, the only props in the 2025 Six Nations squad boasting more than 10 caps are Will Stuart (45) and Ellis Genge (62).
Amid this transition, a new generation of young talent is emerging, led by Fin Baxter and Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Other promising players eager to make their mark include Afolabi Fasogbon and Emmanuel Iyogun.
Opoku-Fordjour made his much-anticipated debut off the bench during England’s final match of the Autumn Nations Series against Japan and is a proud advocate of scrum excellence.
Throughout the first half of the current Premiership season, he has been involved in an impressive 19 penalty-winning efforts at the scrum (15 on his own feed and 4 on the opposition feed). This translates to an exceptional rate of 3.2 scrum penalties per 80 minutes, making him the best-performing prop among those involved in 60 or more scrums.
When examining the penalties won as a percentage of his total scrum involvements, Opoku-Fordjour achieved an impressive ratio, winning a penalty from 33% of the Sharks’ scrum feeds— a league high— and 9% of the opposition feeds.
Overall, just above 20% of his scrum involvements resulted in a penalty for Sale, a remarkable statistic no other prop matched during the first half of the 2024-25 season (for those with 60+ scrum involvements).

Winning scrum penalties can often present a high-risk, high-reward scenario, as teams that frequently win penalties may also concede a fair amount. However, with Sale achieving a remarkable differential of seven more penalties won than conceded while Opoku-Fordjour is on the field (the third-best differential of any player this season), the rewards significantly outweigh the risks.
Alessandro Izekor: Italy’s Rising Star in the Back Row
Italy
The year 2024 marked a significant turning point for Italy in the Six Nations, with two wins and a draw (L2) showcasing a notable improvement over their previous record of just one win in 42 matches leading into the tournament.
This resurgence should not come as a surprise to devoted Azzurri fans, as the U20 team has been consistently competitive against top-tier opponents for several seasons, and the impressive form of Benetton in the URC has further fueled optimism.
At the heart of Benetton’s success is 24-year-old Alessandro Izekor, a flanker who honed his skills at Calvisano before joining the Lions in 2022. Italy currently boasts a wealth of talent in the back row, and Izekor only adds to this impressive pool.
Defensively, Izekor is a formidable presence. Since the commencement of the 2023-24 URC season, he has recorded 28 dominant tackles—12 more than any of his Benetton teammates. Across the league, only Ben-Jason Dixon and Ruben van Heerden (both with 31) have registered more.

Offensively, he is also a valuable ball carrier. His impressive 57% gainline success rate, coupled with a dominant carry rate of 33%, places him among the top forwards in the league.
Given his all-around contributions, it is no wonder that Izekor has emerged as Benetton’s most-utilized player this season, logging an impressive 520 minutes on the pitch, more than any other player in the squad. He will now be eager to translate his club form to the national stage as Italy aims to build on their 2024 success during the 2025 Six Nations.
Josh Hathaway: Wales’ Young Talent Ready to Shine
Wales
Among the many fresh faces in Wales’ 2025 Six Nations squad, with 17 of their 34-man roster holding fewer than 10 caps, Josh Hathaway has committed to represent Wales after previously flirting with England at the U20 level.
At just 21 years old, Hathaway has already garnered Warren Gatland’s trust, evident by the surprising exclusion of Rio Dyer from the squad.
Gatland’s confidence in Hathaway could yield significant rewards if he carries his impressive form from Gloucester into the international arena. With eight tries in 11 Premiership starts since the beginning of 2024, Hathaway has also surpassed 100 meters gained on two occasions during this span.
Versatile across all back-three positions, he has also registered three try assists since his first Premiership start in March. His total of 11 try involvements is the highest among Gloucester players during this period.

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