Rugbys 12 next gen stars you must watch this autumn

The next month represents rugby heaven for fans of the sport as the best in Europe take on the might of the southern hemisphere throughout November. 

It promises to be action of the highest quality – and a chance for a new era ofstarsto cement their status as talents worthy of the international stage. 

Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Alex Bywater looks at 12 next generation players coming through to keep your eye on this autumn outside of the established Test elite…

1. Noah Caluori

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Country:England Age:19Position:WingClub:Saracens 

There’s only one place to start. Caluori’s breakthrough this season has been astonishing. 

He was plucked from nowhere as a late injury replacement for the Saracens bench for their PREM opener with Newcastle and promptly scored on his debut. After one game with Ampthill, he ran riot against Sale with five tries on his return to the Sarries team. 

Noah Caluori was plucked from nowhere as a late injury replacement for the Saracens bench for their PREM opener with Newcastle and promptly scored on his debut

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One thing that makes Caluori stand out from the rest is his ability in the air, a key part of the modern game

Now, he’s in the England squad as a training member but national head coach Steve Borthwick has said there is every chance he could feature this autumn. A potential Test debut against Fiji could be on the cards. 

Caluori is still a novice, but it is only a matter of time before he plays for England given his pace and eye for the try line. One thing that makes him stand out from the rest is his ability in the air, a key part of the modern game.

2. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

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Country:South AfricaAge:23Position:Fly-half/full-backClub:Stormers

The new darling of Springbok rugby. Playing at No 10, Feinberg-Mngomezulu announced himself on the world stage this month against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, scoring the most points by a South African in a Test, with 37 in a 67-30 thumping of the Pumas. 

His mammoth haul included a hat-trick of tries as well as eight conversions and two penalties. The stunning display evoked comparisons with New Zealand great Dan Carter’s 2005 33-point performance against the Lions. 

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a potential true great of the global game. He looks set to be South Africa’s controlling force through to, and at, the 2027 World Cup. While he is still young and can get even better, he has threats across the park. The 23-year-old can run, pass and kick.

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Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the new darling of Springbok rugby after starring in South Africa’s run to Rugby Championship glory this year

Against Argentina, Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored the most points by a South African in a Test, with 37. His mammoth haul included a hat-trick of tries, eight conversions and two penalties

3. Jack Crowley

Country:IrelandAge:25Position:Fly-halfClub:Munster

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Crowley is not a new face on the Test scene. But he has had to play second fiddle as Ireland No 10 to new darling Sam Prendergast. 

However, Crowley has put himself ahead of Prendergast in the pecking order to start Ireland’s crunch autumn opener with New Zealand in Chicago. 

He was outstanding as his Munster team hammered Prendergast’s Leinster in a United Rugby Championship clash at Croke Park. 

That was a game of Test match intensity and showed once again that Crowley has the ability to perform at the highest level, even if some may never have doubted that.

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Jack Crowley has jumped ahead of Sam Prendergast in the pecking order of Irish No10s

4. Fabian Holland

Country:New ZealandAge:23Position:LockClub:Highlanders

Fittingly, the giant Holland was born in the Netherlands and took up rugby despite his homeland not being known for its love of the sport. 

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In 2019, he moved to New Zealand to study in Christchurch, initially only planning to stay for six months. 

Six years later, he’s not only still there, but now one of the most promising second rows in Scott Robertson’s All Blacks squad. 

At 6ft 8in and nearly 20st, Holland is a monstrous and physically imposing figure. His dominance at the lineout, impressive engine, physicality in the loose, sharp breakdown technique and smart handling make him an exciting prospect.

At 6ft 8in and nearly 20st, Fabian Holland is a monstrous and physically imposing figure

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His dominance at the lineout, impressive engine, physicality in the loose, sharp breakdown technique and smart handling make Holland an exciting prospect

5. Ethan Hooker

Country:South AfricaAge:22Position:WingClub:Sharks

Another great rugby name but this time, nominative determinism has had a day off, – Hooker is a flying winger.

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South Africa aren’t exactly short of talent out wide, with the likes of Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse in their ranks. 

Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus is building a squad of incredible depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup, to the point where he can essentially field two world-class teams. 

Hooker will fit that billing on the wing. He has already earned a starting spot in Test matches in the Rugby Championship, on the back of impressive club form with the Sharks. 

With South Africa playing five autumn Tests on consecutive weekends, expect Hooker to see plenty of game time. He is rapid and takes some catching. Despite his name, however, don’t expect him to pop up in the scrum or lineout!

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Despite his name, Ethan Hooker is in fact a pacy winger – expect him to get plenty of game time with South Africa this autumn

6. Dan Edwards

Country:WalesAge:22Position:Fly-halfClub:Ospreys 

New Wales head coach Steve Tandy will take charge of his home nation for the first time this autumn after his summer appointment. He faces an incredibly tough challenge with Welsh rugby struggling both on and off the field. 

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His November squad does look a bit stronger, with the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit and Rhys Carre back involved. 

Wales do have some young talent, even if they are a long way behind the likes of England. Ospreys No 10 Edwards comes into that category. 

Dan Edwards is in possession of the iconic Wales fly-half jersey after making his debut in a challenging 2025 Six Nations campaign

He made his debut in what was a tough 2025 Six Nations and is in possession of the iconic Wales fly-half jersey after a strong summer performance in Japan. 

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He should continue in the role in Wales’ opener with Argentina on November 9, at the very least.

7. Sireli Maqala

Country:FijiAge:25Position:CentreClub:Bayonne

The Fijian was nominated for the TOP14 player of the year award, won by England and Toulouse flanker Jack Willis. He plays for an upwardly mobile French club in Bayonne, where he is the midfield partner of former England centre Manu Tuilagi. 

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And when speaking toDaily Mail Sportat the start of this season, Tuilagi credited his fine form in France partly due to the quality of his team-mate. 

Fiji are always a dangerous side with their offloading and attacking game. Maqala embodies that, but he has power too. 

Fiji face England at Twickenham on November 8. They beat Borthwick’s men at the same venue ahead of the 2023 World Cup and while that shouldn’t happen again, Maqala will be a player that England need to keep quiet.

England will need to keep Sireli Maqala quiet when they take on Fiji at Twickenham on November 8

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8. Esteban Capilla

Country:FranceAge:22Position:FlankerClub:Bayonne

Capilla is another Bayonne star and one of a(nother) strong cohort of young Frenchmen coming through. He has played sevens rugby for his country, but has been called up to the 15-a-side team for the first time by Fabien Galthie. 

France’s back row is stacked and Capilla is a new face, but it seems a matter of when, not if, he’ll win his first cap. That could come against Fiji. 

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Capilla’s sevens background means he is an outstanding handler and runner, as he proved in Bayonne’s recent TOP14 victory over Clermont. Not only did Capilla score two tries in that game, he also showed his footballing ability with an outrageous chip kick and collection which set up a score for Mateo Carreras. 

Back rows aren’t supposed to do that. A match report in top French sports newspaperL’Equipe said Capilla’s performance was ‘close to perfection.’ 

Capilla has said he’d be open to playing centre or wing as well as in the back-row because he is so quick. He’s supposedly been clocked running 23mph in a match!

Esteban Capilla’s sevens background means he is an outstanding handler and runner – plus he has been clocked at 23mph

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9. Liam McConnell

Country:ScotlandAge:21Position:FlankerClub:Edinburgh

A former Scotland Under 20s captain, McConnell is a new face in Gregor Townsend’s senior squad on the back of impressive performances for Edinburgh. 

In training at both club and international level, he has never been afraid to put himself about. From a young age, McConnell was incredibly physical, even competing with men far older than him. 

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In pre-season with Edinburgh, he stood out by excelling in the traditional rugby ‘Bronco’ fitness test – where players have to complete shuttle runs over 20m, 40m and 60m in as quick a time as possible. 

McConnell’s club coach Sean Everitt has marked him out as a future Scotland skipper.

10. Carter Gordon

Country:AustraliaAge:24Position:Fly-halfClub:Queensland Reds

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Australia might have lost 2-1 to the Lions, but under Joe Schmidt they are a much-improved, if not yet world-class, team.

They will pose a serious threat to England on the autumn’s opening weekend, especially as Borthwick’s men have had limited preparation time. 

Tom Lynagh didn’t quite convince as Wallaby No 10 against the Lions, which is why Rugby Australia have brought back Gordon after a stint in rugby league. 

Cross-code switches are common Down Under, but Gordon is now back in union and could take back control of Schmidt’s men. 

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He has only eight caps and is still just 24 but was backed by former England head coach Eddie Jones when he was in charge of Australia. 

While playing in league, Gordon had to deal with a serious spinal injury but is now back fit. He’s an intriguing prospect.

Carter Gordon has crossed codes from rugby league and is ready to take control of Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies side

11. Kalvin Gourgues

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Country:FranceAge:20Position:CentreClub:Toulouse

To play for a team like Toulouse – widely seen as rugby’s equivalent of Real Madrid with all theirGalacticos– is no mean feat. But to excel for them at the age of just 20 is quite another. 

That’s exactly what Gourgues has done this season. In the process, he has earned himself a first senior France call. 

Gael Fickou is still only 31 and France have other talented young midfield options in Nicolas Depoortere, Emilien Gailleton and Fabien Brau-Boire. As such, Gourgues is far from guaranteed game time and this autumn may indeed amount to a learning experience for him. 

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The fact Kalvin Gourgues is already excelling for a team of Toulouse’s calibre aged 20 is testament to his enormous talent

However, having watched plenty of Gourgues in action in the TOP14, it is clear he is a player of international class. 

France head coach Galthie might be unable to ignore his club form and that could lead to a first senior cap in the coming weeks.

12. Pedro Rubiolo

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Country:ArgentinaAge:22Position:LockClub:Bristol Bears

Bristol moved to poach the promising Argentine second row, who can also play in the back row, from PREM rivals Newcastle.

Pedro Rubiolo, who plays his club rugby in Bristol, looks set to be a central part of Argentina pack for years to come

Rubiolo made his Pumas debut aged just 19 and looks set to be a central part of their pack in the coming years. 

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He already has significant international experience for a player so young and was a regular presence for Felipe Contepomi’s side in the Rugby Championship. 

Watchout for him in the PREM in the coming months but before that in the blue and white of his country. 

Argentina face three of the four home nations in November – Wales, Scotland and England in that order – so fans will see plenty of Rubiolo in action.