Jack Clifford
Age 22
Club Harlequins
Position Flanker
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The dust had barely settled on England’s World Cup campaign before Clifford’s name was being mentioned as the next great hope in the back row. Born in Australia, Clifford captained England to the World Rugby Under-20 Championship title in 2013 and has played for England Sevens. Quick, strong at the breakdown and an effective carrier, this is his time.
Charles Piutau
Age 23
Club Wasps
Position Wing/ full back
Piutau missed out on New Zealand’s 31-man squad for the World Cup but he was man of the match in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship win this year over South Africa at Ellis Park. Piutau will join Ulster next season but Wasps have swooped to sign him up for one year only. They are getting a lethal runner who will light up the league.
Niko Matawalu
Age 26
Club Bath
Position Scrum half
The most exciting signing of the year. Matawalu has been frightening defences in the PRO12 and for Fiji this year. Now it’s the turn of the Premiership to cope with his bursts from all over the field. At 26 he is also just coming into his prime. Plays by instinct and always seems to find holes in defences.
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Henry Slade
Age 22
Club Exeter
Position Fly half/centre
His World Cup debut came too late to save England from their abject elimination, but Exeter will benefit from Slade’s creativity, whether at fly half or in midfield this season as they look to break into the top four. Slade always looks composed and is an effective carrier at 6ft 2in, but it is his kicking game and distribution that are most exciting.
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Jeremy Thrush
Age 30
Club Gloucester
Position Lock
Thrush is competing with Wellington to win the ITM Cup in New Zealand, but will then be straight on a plane to England and will add some necessary bite to Gloucester’s pack. Another player to miss out narrowly on New Zealand’s World Cup squad, with 12 caps to his name.
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Brendon O’Connor
Age 26
Club Leicester
Position Flanker
Julian Salvi leaving Welford Road would be a disaster were it not for the arrival of O’Connor. A ferocious operator at the breakdown who stood tall in a dismal season for the Auckland Blues this year in Super Rugby. Already hailed by Aaron Mauger, Leicester’s new head coach, as “the complete package”.
Tom Fowlie
Age 20
Club London Irish
Position Centre/wing
The Exiles’ academy has polished several gems over the years — Jonathan Joseph, Anthony Watson, Steffon Armitage — and Fowlie looks like the next to shine. The England Under-20 international back recently signed a two-year contract extension and has shown impressive speed and strength in his career.
Victor Matfield
Age 38
Club Northampton
Position Lock
A signing out of the blue. Matfield almost joined Northampton seven years ago and now finally makes the move to Franklin’s Gardens, but how much of an impact he can make so late in his career is open to scrutiny. No one can question his ability, though, as a leader and master of the lineout.
Maro Itoje
Age 20
Club Saracens
Position Lock/flanker
Already hailed as an England captain of the future. Itoje, in just more than a year, led England to win the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, captained Saracens to the LV= Cup title and broke into England’s initial Rugby World Cup squad. Expect his rapid rise to continue. A phenomenal athlete eating up every challenge in front of him.
Chris Pennell
Age 28
Club Worcester
Position Full back
If the Warriors are to survive relegation, they will need Pennell to recapture the explosive form he displayed before they went down in 2014. Capped on the tour to New Zealand, Pennell is now back in the Premiership spotlight and could muscle his way into England’s plans for the Six Nations.