With the 25th edition of the Six Nations around the corner, we’ve taken a look at the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup stars set to shine for Ireland, France, England, Scotland, Wales and Italy, including Leinster’s Sam Prendergast, Union Bordeaux-Bègles’ Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, Stade Toulousain’s Blair Kinghorn and Ange Capuozzo, Saracens’ Maro Itoje and more.
With the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup pool stages coming to their habitually dramatic close and the 2025 Six Nations rapidly approaching, we've taken a look at the stars from club rugby’s greatest tournament who will be looking to shine for their countries across the next couple of months.
England
World Ranking: 7th
Six Nations 2024 result: 3rd
Coach: Steve Borthwick
Captain: Maro Itoje
Ones to watch: Maro Itoje, Freddie Steward and Marcus Smith
Following a disappointing Autumn Nations Series campaign last year, all eyes are on how England turn that around in this season’s Six Nations.
Heading into their opener away to Ireland with a new captain, Saracens’ Maro Itoje, there are plenty of exciting names heading across the Irish Sea.
Investec Player of the Match winners in Rounds 3 and 4 respectively Leicester Tigers’ Freddie Steward and Harlequins’ Chandler Cunningham-South along with Saracens’ Tom Willis, who made the most tackles and beat the most defenders in the pool stage, join experienced talent such as Harlequins’ Marcus Smith to form an impressive squad.
Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Maro Itoje (c), George Martin, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Bevan Rodd, Will Stuart, Tom Willis.
Backs: Oscar Beard, Elliot Daly, Fraser Dingwall, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Harry Randall, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet.