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England have enjoyed a successful 2025, with the U20s and A pathways beginning to bear fruit as Steve Borthwick heads into 2026 with a conveyor belt of talent at his disposal.
Borthwick went into this year having chopped and changed his team repeatedly in the build up to the Six Nations but with an enormous player pool in the Prem, the England head coach tends to always be spoilt for choice.
He appears to have become settled on his fly-half with George Ford ousting the two Smiths and Alex Mitchell comfortably clear as his half back partner but there are still question marks over certain positions in terms of depth.
Borthwick has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in his wings, 10s, nines, flankers, centres and hookers but the same can’t be said in terms of out and out Test-level class at tighthead prop, second row, No.8 and full-back.
With that in mind, here’s four potential debutants that could make a significant dent in the fast approaching Six Nations:
Afolabi Fasogbon
Gloucester’s man mountain at 6 ft 4inch and 132 kgs, is the kind of genetically gifted tighthead most international head coaches would saw an arm or leg off for.
What you see is what you get with Fasogbon, who burst onto the scene in the 2023 U20s World Cup. The 21-year-old former London Irish front row is a fierce ball carrier and was seen in the early parts of last season waving Ellis Genge off the pitch, having obliterated the British & Irish Lion at scrum time.
Fasogbon has managed to keep himself fit this term, featuring in all of the Cherry and Whites’ Prem games thus far, but with Glos enduring a rather dismal campaign his club’s form may go against him.
Ben Bamber
Operating in the engine room, Bamber is a second row who often goes under the radar at Sale Sharks, but is a vital cog in Alex Sanderson’s play-off pushing side.
England aren’t blessed with many out and out behemoth locks to partner the more athletic Maro Itoje, therefore Bamber at 6ft 9inch and 126kgs may fit the bill.
Bamber has taken over the line out calling at Sale due to veteran Josh Beaumont’s retirement - an area where the Mancunians have continued to excel this term under the 24-year-old’s stewardship. Bamber put on 8kg during pre-season and shaved 50 seconds off his fitness test to transform himself into one of the in-form locks across the Prem this year.
Greg Fisilau
Fisilau was player of the match in Exeter Chiefs’ dominant victory over Leicester Tigers on Sunday, scoring the opening try and helped set up the decisive score for Stephen Varney.
The 22-year-old played alongside Fasogbon with England U20s and has appeared for England A, and many feel it is only a matter of time before Borthwick comes calling for a player who has been in blockbusting form, shown by his nomination for Prem player of the month.
Following Tom Willis’ departure to France, England are left with Ben Earl and an out-of-form Chandler Cunningham-South as Borthwick’s primary No.8 options. Many still see Earl as a better option at 7 due to his smaller stature of 102kgs, and with Fisilau bulking up to 109kgs, perhaps he could be the answer.
George Hendy
Another who has hit form at just the right time with dazzling displays during Northampton Saints’ statement victories over Sale and Bath that rewarded Hendy with a Prem player of the month nomination.
George Furbank looked set to be England’s 15 for the foreseeable but has had a nightmare 2025 on the sidelines, while the jury remains out on whether Freddie Steward or Marcus Smith have the right credentials to be Borthwick’s long-term full-back.
Hendy, 23, was Northampton’s hero in the 2023/24 Prem final, delivering a match-winning cameo at Twickenham and has gone on to become a first team regular at Franklin’s Gardens.
Solid under the high ball, jet-like pace with dazzling feet, Hendy, who is no slouch at 6ft 3inch and 94kgs, recently scored a staggering six tries in three outings earlier this month in wins over Pau, the Bulls and Sale.