Henry Pollock scored two tries off the bench on his England debut, then became the youngest forward ever picked for a British & Irish Lions tour barely three months later. He’s not even the only teenager-turned-international England has unearthed recently. If you want to know where English rugby is heading over the next World Cup cycle, these are the young English rugby players building that future right now.
Steve Borthwick has made a habit of blooding young talent straight from club rugby into senior Test squads, and the RFU’s August 2026 update to the Elite Player Squad confirmed several more names are now firmly part of the plan. Here’s who’s coming through.
Henry Pollock: Already a Lion at 21
Born in January 2005, Pollock is the standard against which every other breakout youngster in English rugby now gets measured. He joined the Northampton Saints academy as a young teenager, captained their under-18s to an Academy League final, and made his senior debut for Saints at just 17.
His 2024–25 season was the real breakthrough — 22 appearances, ten tries, and a run to the Champions Cup final that included seven tries in as many European matches. Pollock was subsequently named Premiership Breakthrough Player of the Season, then scored twice on his England debut against Wales before being picked for the 2025 Lions tour to Australia, aged just 20 at the time of selection.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: From Wales Age-Grade to England Wing
Feyi-Waboso’s path to England is unusual. Born in Cardiff to Nigerian parents, he represented Wales at age-grade level and started his professional career with Cardiff Rugby before a move to Wasps and then Exeter Chiefs redirected his international future. He made his England debut in the 2024 Six Nations and quickly became one of the most watched wingers in the squad.
Now 23 years old, he’s studying medicine at the University of Exeter alongside his rugby career, and his combination of pace and footwork remains one of the most dangerous attacking threats England have at their disposal.
Fin Smith: Growing Into the Number 10 Shirt
Fin Smith has emerged as one of three genuine England fly-half options, starting Six Nations matches and showing the composure to control a game under pressure — even in matches, like the loss to Italy, where the team around him wasn’t firing. He’s part of the Northampton Saints core that runs through much of this England group.
His development matters enormously for England’s long-term planning. A settled, in-form fly-half is one of the biggest advantages a Test team can have, and Smith is squarely in the conversation to own that shirt through to the next World Cup.
Guy Pepper and Alex Coles: New Faces with Enhanced Contracts
When Borthwick refreshed England’s Elite Player Squad in August 2026, five new names earned enhanced contracts: Seb Atkinson, Alex Coles, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, and Jack van Poortvliet. Pepper and Opoku-Fordjour were specifically flagged as among the younger players Borthwick has increasingly backed, both having forced their way into contention through strong club and international form.
Their promotion came at the expense of some more established names, including Ben Curry, Ollie Lawrence, Tom Willis, Elliot Daly, and Tom Roebuck — a clear signal that Borthwick is willing to prioritize development over experience as England build toward 2027.
The Uncapped Trio from the 2026 Six Nations Squad
Three uncapped players were named in Borthwick’s 36-man squad for the 2026 Six Nations: back-rower Greg Fisilau of Exeter Chiefs, and props Vilikesa Sela of Bath and Emmanuel Iyogun of Northampton Saints. Their inclusion came at a time when England’s front row was under serious injury pressure, with regulars like Fin Baxter sidelined.
Getting uncapped players into a senior training environment during a title-chasing campaign is no small thing. Whatever happens with their opportunities on the field, all three are now firmly inside the England picture heading into the next cycle.
Trevor Davison and Bevan Rodd: Front-Row Depth Returning
England’s front-row injury crisis during the 2026 Six Nations wasn’t only solved with uncapped debutants. Trevor Davison and Bevan Rodd both returned to the wider squad picture as Borthwick looked to rebuild depth at prop, a position that had been stretched thin for much of the campaign. Neither man is a total unknown at this level, but both represent the kind of squad depth England will need if they’re serious about competing on multiple fronts through to the 2027 World Cup.
Front-row depth rarely gets the same attention as an exciting winger or a rising fly-half, but England’s 2026 campaign was a reminder of how quickly a title challenge can unravel without it. Keeping players like Davison and Rodd fit and firing matters just as much as any of the more eye-catching names on this list.
Tommy Freeman: The Template for What Comes Next
At 25, Freeman isn’t the newest name on this list, but his trajectory is exactly what England hopes to replicate with the younger players around him. He’s racked up 27 caps, become a genuinely dangerous finisher, and shown the versatility to play across the back three. For Borthwick, Freeman represents proof that England’s development pathway can produce Test-ready talent quickly when the structure works.
What the 2024 U20 Grand Slam Set Up
Several of the names on this list came through the same England Under-20s side that won a Six Nations Grand Slam and the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2024. Pollock scored a hat-trick on his U20 debut in that tournament and was later named Player of the Tournament as England won their first U20 world title since 2016. That kind of age-grade success doesn’t guarantee senior careers, but it’s a strong sign of the talent pipeline Borthwick now has to draw from.
Watching how many more players from that Grand Slam-winning group break into the senior squad over the next couple of seasons will be one of the clearer indicators of whether England’s development pathway is working as intended.
Why Age-Grade Success Doesn’t Always Translate Immediately
It’s worth noting that not every promising young player’s path runs smoothly. Feyi-Waboso’s own career shows how quickly things can change — after a breakthrough 2024 season that included beating 13 defenders in a single Champions Cup match, he missed the entire 2025 Six Nations through injury following what was later described as a mismanaged return to play. He didn’t feature in club rugby for nearly nine months before returning in September 2025 with two tries, including an equalizer against Northampton Saints, then following up with a hat-trick the following week.
That kind of setback and recovery is a useful reminder that England’s next generation isn’t just about spotting talent early — it’s about managing it carefully once the pressure of senior rugby arrives.
Key Takeaways
- Henry Pollock: Youngest forward ever selected for a British & Irish Lions tour, at just 20 years old in 2025.
- Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: A 23-year-old winger who switched allegiance from Welsh age-grade rugby to senior England honors.
- Fin Smith: One of three fly-half contenders, seen as central to England’s long-term plans at number 10.
- Guy Pepper and Alex Coles: Among five new names given enhanced England contracts in August 2026.
- The uncapped trio: Greg Fisilau, Vilikesa Sela, and Emmanuel Iyogun all entered the senior picture during the 2026 Six Nations.
- Tommy Freeman: Proof of what England’s development system can produce when it clicks.
FAQs
How old is Henry Pollock?
Henry Pollock was born on 14 January 2005, making him 21 years old in 2026.
Why did Immanuel Feyi-Waboso play for England instead of Wales?
Feyi-Waboso represented Wales at age-grade level but committed his senior international future to England, making his England debut in the 2024 Six Nations.
Which young players received new England contracts in 2026?
Seb Atkinson, Alex Coles, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, and Jack van Poortvliet all earned enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts in August 2026.
Who were the uncapped players in England’s 2026 Six Nations squad?
Greg Fisilau, Vilikesa Sela, and Emmanuel Iyogun were the three uncapped players named in Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad.
Is Henry Pollock a British & Irish Lion?
Yes, Pollock was selected for the 2025 Lions tour to Australia at age 20, becoming the youngest forward ever picked for a Lions squad.
Conclusion
England’s next generation of young rugby players is already inside the senior squad, not waiting in the wings. From Pollock’s rapid rise to the new contracts handed to Pepper and Coles, the depth chart looks very different than it did even two years ago. Whether that depth translates into results depends on how quickly this group can grow together — but the raw talent on show gives England fans plenty of reason to keep watching.
