The 2023 World Cup is now less than 18 months away, and after a lacklustre Six Nations performance, England head coach Eddie Jones will be looking at the fresh talent coming through and new, in-form players who could potentially spearhead a deep run in France next year. Here are five youngsters who could break into the national setup by that time.
Luke Northmore – Harlequins
Rugby fans betting on upcoming club and international games can get UK betting tips and the latest offers for bookmakers at a leading news and comparison site. One player to keep an eye on this year is Luke Northmore, the 25-year-old centre at Harlequins who was named to England’s squad at the Six Nations but has yet to make an appearance. Northmore recently penned a “long-term” contract at Harlequins after scoring eight tries in 12 games this season, and international acclaim could soon be on the horizon.
Ollie Chessum – Leicester Tigers
21-year-old Ollie Chessum looks to be on course for a regular starting berth in time for the 2023 World Cup after receiving his first call-up to the national side during the recent Six Nations tournament. After impressing for Leicester Tigers this season, especially in his man-of-the-match performance against Wasps back in November, Jones decided to give the youngster his debut from the bench against Italy. Chessum played the final 15 minutes in Rome as England cruised to a 33-0 victory.
Louis Lynagh – Harlequins
Perhaps a bit further down in the pecking order, Harlequins’ Louis Lynagh has the potential to shine during the next 18 months and stake a claim for a spot on Jones’ team. The son of Australian rugby great Michael Lynagh, Louis was called up to England’s extended 45-player squad late last year. The 21-year-old had a starring role in Harlequins’ Premiership title win in 2021 after scoring two late tries in a breathless 40-38 victory over Exeter at Twickenham. The outside back is still eligible to play for three countries: Australia, England and Italy, where he was born, so Jones might want to fast-track him into his setup.
Ollie Hassell-Collins – London Irish
Ollie Hassell-Collins has more experience than the other names listed here after making 69 appearances for London Irish since his debut in 2018. The 23-year-old has caught the attention of Jones, receiving a first call-up to the senior squad last June. A second call-up followed at the Six Nations, but the winger has yet to feature for England in a competitive game. Hassell-Collins has played for both the U18s and U20s, and he will be hoping to do enough in the coming months to put himself in the reckoning for the big tournament in France.
Alfie Barbeary – Wasps
Alfie Barbeary has been in Jones’ thinking for longer than the rest, having first received a call to the senior team back in November 2020. Although he did not feature in the Autumn Nations Cup, Barbeary continued to showcase his skills as a number-eight for Wasps as they thrived in Europe. Unfortunately, an ankle injury ended his season early, but the 21-year-old bounced back and was again called up to this year’s Six Nations. While he made every match-day squad, a debut cap remains elusive – but that could change in the coming months.
