The 10 breakout rugby stars to watch in 2025: England's scrum destroyer, a world-class 19-year-old and a human highlights reel
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The New Year brings new possibilities and 2025 has the potential to be a truly brilliant 12 months for the game of rugby union. The British & Irish Lions tour of Australia and the Women’s World Cup in England are the standout moments to look forward to, and there is a burgeoning class of youngsters ready to make a name of themselves.
![[England will be desperate to take their stunning Women's Six Nations form into the home world cup this year]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/10/93669389-14243603-image-a-2_1735815329603.jpg)
Here, Mail Sport sizes up the 10 breakout stars across the globe to keep an eye on this year…. Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will lead the British and Irish Lions against Australia this summer. England will be desperate to take their stunning Women's Six Nations form into the home world cup this year.
![[Henry Pollock is among what the RFU have said is a golden generation of young talent coming through]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/11/93669741-14243603-image-a-3_1735816077476.jpg)
Henry Pollock. Age: 19. Club: Northampton Saints. Country: England. Position: Back-row forward. A World Cup winner with England Under 20s last summer, Pollock is among what the RFU have said is a golden generation of young talent coming through. At 19, he is still very young but he has made a big impression at senior level with Northampton in the last month. His try against Castres in the Champions Cup showed the fearsome power he has.
![[Cortez Ratima’s progress in the last 12 months for the Chiefs and New Zealand has been impressive]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/11/93669777-14243603-image-a-4_1735816127488.jpg)
If he continues on an upward curve, a full England call for the Six Nations isn’t out of the realms of possibility. Pollock has been carefully managed by Northampton and despite his tender years, he is a very confident individual on and off the field.
![[Afolabi Fasogbon has shot to prominence in the Premiership this season with his set-piece work]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/11/93669813-14243603-image-a-5_1735816207358.jpg)
That self-belief has sometimes earned him a ticking off from his more experienced Saints team-mates, but it is also a characteristic central to success at the highest level. Pollock’s already-impressive physicality will also surely improve even further as he grows.
![[Ellie Kildunne will be one of England’s leading figures as they host the Women’s World Cup]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/02/11/93669821-14243603-image-a-6_1735816266835.jpg)
