Every year, the Six Nations showcases some of rugby union’s greatest players. As a result, several of the sport’s finest have cemented their reputation at the tournament. This includes rugby legends like Jonny Wilkinson, Alun Wyn Jones and Ronan O’Gara, whose names remain synonymous with the championship.
But which players could make their mark at this year’s Six Nations? Now that the 2025 squads have been announced, here are the Six Nations players to watch from each team.
Ellis Genge (England)
A force on the field, English prop and vice-captain Ellis Genge is one to keep an eye on. Genge made his debut for England in 2016 and has made over 60 appearances for the squad since then.
At the 2020 Six Nations, Genge scored the winning try against Scotland, and in November 2022 he was named in World Rugby’s team of the year as the best loosehead prop.
Genge’s strong leadership skills, intense physicality and exceptional work rate make him a key player in the Six Nations squad.
Other England names to watch
Head coach Steve Borthwick has included two uncapped players for this year’s squad - centre Oscar Beard and winger Cadan Murley.
Maro Itoje is looking to impress, being named this year’s captain. Itoje will be assisted by vice-captains Jamie George and Ellis Genge.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
Louis Bielle-Biarrey began his senior career with Bordeaux Bègles in 2021. During his first game for Bordeaux and his first European appearance, Bielle-Biarrey scored an outstanding hat-trick that helped put his name on the map.
The 2025 Six Nations will be the third Six Nations Championship for the young winger. He made his debut in 2023, and in 2024, he contributed to France’s 20-16 win against Scotland by scoring an impressive try at Murrayfield Stadium.
His speed and agility make him a great member of the team and he’s now widely regarded as one of the most exciting players on the planet to watch.
Other France players to watch
Fabien Galthié’s squad features some big names, including Antoine Dupont, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby union stars currently on the field. Dupont is joined by other well-known players including Grégory Aldritt, Romain Ntamack, and Thomas Ramos.
Amongst the experienced are a number of uncapped players, including Maxime Lamothe, Giorgi Beria, Joshua Brennan, Matthias Halagahu, Noah Nene, and Gaël Dréan.
Sam Prendergast (Ireland)
At just 21 years old, Prendergast has already made great strides in his career. The young fly-half joined the Leinster Rugby academy in 2022, and was part of the Ireland Under-20s team the same year. During his debut for the Leinster first team, he was awarded the Player of the Match award for his impressive performance.
It wasn’t long before his talents were noticed and in 2024, he was called up to the Six Nations squad as a training panellist. Prendergast didn’t participate in any test matches during the championship, but he did appear for his country in the 2024 Autumn Internationals.
His relaxed style of play and passing range has been compared to retired Australian rugby union player, Stephen Larkham.
Other Ireland players to watch
The Ireland squad features several familiar names, including Garry Ringrose, Andrew Porter, Josh van der Flier, and Mack Hansen.
Simon Easterby has added one uncapped player to the mix - Leinster prop Jack Boyle. There are also four other newcomers joining the team as development players: Hugh Cooney, Cathal Forde, James McNabney, and Ben Murphy.
Paolo Garbisi (Italy)
Italian fly-half Paolo Garbisi first joined the Italy squad in 2020. In 2022, he scored the winning conversion in Italy’s match against Wales. In doing so, he helped his country secure its first Six Nations victory since 2015.
His intelligence and ability to make decisions quickly made him a key player in the Italian team. If Italy are to spring a few surprises this year, they’ll need Garbisi at his very best.
Other Italy players to watch
Tommaso Menoncello, 2024’s Player of the Tournament, returns to the squad for the 2025 Six Nations. He’ll be joined at centre by Juan Ignacio Brex.
Finn Russell (Scotland)
Fly-half Finn Russell has represented Scotland since 2014 and has appeared in the Six Nations Championships regularly. Russell proved himself to be a strong leader for Scotland at last year's Six Nations, where he co-captained the team with back rower Rory Darge.
During the 2018 Six Nations Championship, Russell played in all five fixtures and during a win against England, performed a skillful pass that was described by many pundits as one of the greatest of all-time. Russell also played a pivotal role in Scotland's comeback against England in the 2019 Six Nations Championship.
Other Scotland players to watch
Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke and Glasgow back-row Jack Mann have both been named in the Scotland squad for the first time this year.
In contrast, the team also consists of several experienced players, including Zander Fagerson and Duhan van der Merwe.
Dan Edwards (Wales)
Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, has added Dan Edwards to his 34-player squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship.
Dan Edwards is a young rugby star in the making who is showing great promise at his current club, Ospreys. The 21-year old fly-half stands at just 5 ft 10 in but what he lacks in size he makes up for in technical ability and confidence.
Edwards made his international debut for Wales U20 in 2021 and this year will mark his Six Nations debut. Welsh fans will be watching closely to see how the fly-half develops over the course of the tournament.
Other Wales players to watch
Alongside Dan Edwards, winger Ellis Mee is the second test rookie in the 34-man group.
The Welsh squad also features plenty of familiar faces, including back rower Taulupe Faletau and fullback Liam Williams. They are the most capped players in the squad, with 104 and 92 caps respectively.
