I’m really looking forward to this Six Nations because I think it should be a great tournament and no one knows exactly what is coming.
For me, the Championship is undoubtedly the best in rugby outside of the World Cup and you could actually make an argument to say it’s even better than the global showpiece.
Alongside the Ryder Cup, the Six Nations is one of my sporting favourites. For 2025, I think we’re set for some brilliant attacking and enthralling rugby.
Here are my 10 players to watch…
SAM PRENDERGAST
Age: 21 Country: Ireland Position: Fly-half Caps: 3
Johnny Sexton is now helping coach Ireland rather than being their fly-half. But it’s a testament to the strength of the Irish system that they haven’t missed him too much.
Sam Prendergast (above) is another product of the seemingly endless Leinster production line
The 21-year-old fly-half will take comfort from being surrounded by his club team-mates
Munster’s Jack Crowley is a very, very good No 10. But he was usurped by Leinster’s Prendergast in the autumn and it looks likely the latter will start as Ireland’s playmaker against England.
Prendergast is still a rookie really. But it helps him no end that for both club and country, he plays in very, very good teams with so much experience around him.
The Leinster and Ireland teams are virtually the same, so that cohesion is a big advantage. However, that is not to bely Prendergast’s promising talent.
He is very slight. But what that does give him is a significant running threat which marks him out from his rivals. I’m sure England will look to target him on Saturday, but he is unlikely to be flustered by that.
If England’s defence is off, as it was in 2024, you can be sure that Prendergast will make them pay.
ASHER OPOKU-FORDJOUR
Age: 20 Country: England Position: Prop Caps: 1
He’s a really exciting young prop. His new three-year contract with Sale and the fact he is already impressing at the highest level is a reflection of that promise.
From my experience as a coach, front-row forwards don’t tend to hit their peak until they are around 30. So, it’s quite scary to think how good Opoku-Fordjour could be in a decade’s time.
England’s 20-year-old prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour is one of the hottest prospects in rugby
The forward has soared into the England setup at the age of just 20 and is primed to kick on
He came into the England setup pretty quickly for a debut against Japan in November and I really wouldn’t be surprised to see him continue his progression with more game time in this Six Nations.
England have relied on Dan Cole at No 3 for far too long now and I think the fact he is not in this Six Nations squad is because Steve Borthwick believes Opoku-Fordjour is ready.
His involvements are likely to come from the bench, but he is certainly one to watch out for.
FERGUS BURKE
Age: 25 Country: Scotland Position: Fly-half Caps: 0
Burke has had an excellent start to his club rugby in England with Saracens, his first season playing in the northern hemisphere after moving from the Crusaders.
What I’ve liked about the Kiwi-born fly-half in the Premiership is that he’s a very unfussy player. He does the basics very, very well. There is no real show to his game. He just gets on with things and does his job excellently.
It’s no surprise Sarries director of rugby Mark McCall has been impressed with him. Burke also qualified for England as well as the All Blacks, but he’s thrown his lot in with Scotland.
Finn Russell isn’t going to be moved from the blue No 10 shirt, but Scotland losing their captain Sione Tuipulotu to injury could give Burke a chance to start at full back, with Tom Jordan possibly filling in for Tuipulotu in the centre.
Burke has been a revelation for Saracens in his first season in northern hemisphere rugby
Burke’s path to the No 10 shirt is blocked by Finn Russell, right, so he may start at full back
Burke has plenty of experience in both back-line positions and will surely get game time in his first Six Nations.
Scotland fans have seen their team hit hard by fitness issues and the loss of Tuipulotu is hugely significant. But Burke could help fill the void and provide cause for cheer.
TOMOS WILLIAMS
Age: 30 Country: Wales Position: Scrum-half Caps: 59
I really hope Wales can exit their slumber in this Six Nations because the Championship needs them to be competitive.
Warren Gatland’s side have lost their last 12 games and finished bottom in 2024 without a win. Reasons for cheer have been in short supply, but in Williams Wales have a serious player.
He is in a very good position to go on this summer’s Lions tour of Australia, possibly as first-choice No 9. Williams is that good.
Look at where Gloucester are in the Premiership. They are third and playing high-octane rugby. Williams is responsible for a large part of that.
If he can replicate that form for Wales, they have a chance of improving their results. Williams plays rugby as it should be – with pace, verve, and attacking intent. I love seeing him in action.
Williams is a leading contender to be the starting Lions scrum-half in Australia this summer
The way he plays for Gloucester should act as a blueprint for success in the Six Nations
ROMAIN NTAMACK
Age: 25 Country: France Position: Fly-half Caps: 37
So much of the focus in France is on Antoine Dupont – and rightly so.
But I think that means lots of rugby fans don’t quite realise how good his half-back partner Ntamack is.
That’s especially the case because he missed the 2023 World Cup and last year’s Six Nations because of a serious knee injury.
Ntamack – the son of former France wing great Emile – is now back fit and judging by his recent performances for Toulouse, he is in fine form.
The 25-year-old is a brilliant player. He has so much talent around him that he doesn’t have to do anything too flash.
If you watched Toulouse put 80 points on Leicester in the Champions Cup, he made the game look so easy. That’s always a sign of a good player.
It’s great to see him back because he’s a player all rugby fans want to watch.
Romain Ntamack is finally back for France after being plagued by injuries for nearly two years
The 25-year-old makes the game look so easy and is someone every rugby fan wants to watch
TOMMASO MENONCELLO
Age: 22 Country: Italy Position: Centre Caps: 23
Some might forget the young Italian centre was the Six Nations player of the Championship last year. That’s how good he is.
He and the Azzurri had a fine 2024, beating Scotland and Wales and drawing with France. Menoncello was a key part of that.
His club team Benetton beat French giants La Rochelle in the Champions Cup earlier this month and I think that was a highly significant result. It shows that Italian rugby is continuing to go the right way.
Italy have arguably the best midfield combination in the tournament in Juan Ignacio Brex and Menoncello, and the pair can help Italy shine again.
They have injury-hit Scotland away to start and then struggling Wales at home. There is a very good chance they could be two from two after the opening rounds.
If they are to do that, Italy will need Menoncello at his best, especially in attack.
His sensational individual try in Europe at Bristol was a reminder of what he can do.
Tommaso Menoncello starred as Italy beat Wales in Cardiff in last year’s Championship
Menoncello, who has 23 caps so far, won player of the tournament in last year’s Six Nations
TOM WILLIS
Age: 26 Country: England Position: No 8 Caps: 1
He’s admitted to feeling he’s not had a ‘proper crack’ with England and his one cap to date suggests that to be the case.
But there are few more deserving of Six Nations selection in 2025 than Willis, who has been on fire for Saracens this season.
He is likely to make a second Test appearance against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, most probably from the bench.
But in the form he is in, don’t bet against Willis impressing as a replacement and winning a starting berth later in the Championship.
He offers a priceless carrying and physical ability at the back of the scrum, providing a very different option to Ben Earl.
If head coach Steve Borthwick wants to go for power, then he will soon look to Willis.
It continues to frustrate me hugely that Willis’ brother Jack, who is in equally good, if not better form in Toulouse, remains ineligible for England. He would make a huge difference to the team. But maybe Tom can make up for his sibling’s ongoing absence.
Willis is one of the Premiership’s form players and is primed to finally get a crack for England
French lock Joshua Brennan, 23, has managed to break into Toulouse’s star-studded team
JOSHUA BRENNAN
Age: 23 Country: France Position: Lock/back row Caps: 0
He is fascinating to me because as one of Trevor Brennan’s two sons, he could have played for Ireland. But after spending his whole life in France after his father moved to play out there and settled in the city of Toulouse, he has chosen Les Bleus and understandably so.
Joshua’s brother Daniel is also in French rugby, with Toulon. It’s a great story!
He got his first international call-up in the autumn, and the fact he is regularly involved in Toulouse’s matchday squad when they have the team they do says everything about his ability.
His move to flanker at club level has taken him to the next level and earned him international recognition.
Not many French players still have a bit of an Irish accent, so that’s reason enough to watch out for Brennan!
JOE McCARTHY
Age: 23 Country: Ireland Position: Lock Caps: 18
If the Lions were picking their starting XV for the first Test against Australia this summer now, you could have a decent bet that McCarthy would be alongside England captain Maro Itoje at lock.
Joe McCarthy has a real shot at being a starting Lions second row in Australia this summer
McCarthy needs to go up a gear in this Six Nations to prove he is one of the best in the world
He is still very young for a second row, but at the same time McCarthy now has 18 caps so he’s starting to get some experience.
He has already proved himself a player of very real promise, but I think this Six Nations is a big one for him to go up a gear in what is obviously a brilliant Ireland team.
McCarthy needs to be saying to Lions coach Andy Farrell ‘you can’t leave me out of the tour because I’m playing that well.’
Of course, every player from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland will want to be doing that. But they don’t all have McCarthy’s talent.
LOUIS BIELLE-BIARREY
Age: 21 Country: France Position: Wing Caps: 14
Jason Robinson was one of my most important players with England. His pace and dynamism provided a real point of difference to the team I coached.
There is no substitute for speed in international rugby. France’s Bielle-Biarrey reminds me a bit of Robinson because he has a similarly small stature and serious wheels!
He plays his club rugby in Bordeaux and they have been on fire this season in the TOP14 and the Champions Cup.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey’s lightning speed makes him a threat to any team in the Six Nations
His ability to change the game with his pace is reminiscent of England legend Jason Robinson
France host Wales on the tournament’s opening night this Friday and you can expect Bielle-Biarrey to cause havoc.
His French and Bordeaux team-mate Damian Penaud is sadly (for the neutral anyway, not Welsh fans!) out of round one due to injury, so Bielle-Biarrey is a decent try-scorer bet.
He could well be the one who ends the Championship with the most tries.
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