The new PREM Rugby season kicks off on Friday, and with it comes a chance to shine for a host of talented youngsters.
When defending champions Northampton Saints host Newcastle Red Bulls and Harlequins meet Bath tomorrow night, the usual stars from Henry Pollock to Ollie Lawrence will be front and centre. But there will be also a number of new faces who could catch the eye of rugby fans.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Nik Simon and Alex Bywater pick 10 potential PREM stars – one from each club – to watch out for this term…
EDWARD SIGAUKE
Age: 22, Club: Harlequins, Position: Wing
The young Zimbabwean could be one of the feelgood stories of the season. He was playing university rugby in Johannesburg last year and signed for Harlequins after the club’s head of recruitment sent him a message on Instagram.
A quick look through his highlights reel showcases the winger’s raw ability to turn defenders inside out with his speed and footwork.
Idolising Cheslin Kolbe and Darcy Graham, the 22-year-old scored with his first touch in pre-season.
The electric Edward Sigauke of Harlequins scores in pre-season against Edinburgh
SIONE VA’ENUKU
Age: 26, Club: Saracens, Position: Centre
Ever since Manu Tuilagi moved over to France in 2023, English rugby has been on the lookout for powerful centres.
Va’enuku played rugby league for the Sydney Roosters before moving to the UK in 2024. He is English qualified and joined Saracens through the club’s partnership programme with Ampthill.
Following the departure of Alex Lozowski to Sale, the hard-running Tongan, 26, should get his fair share of game time in the PREM.
The hard-running Tongan centre Sione Va’enuku should get plenty of game-time for Sarries this season
ALLAN FERRIE
Age: 26, Club: Newcastle Red Bulls, Position: Flanker
Ferrie is primed to make his top-flight debut at the age of 26 after signing a two-year contract at Newcastle over the summer.
He hails from Scottish farming stock and is a late bloomer in the professional game. Ferrie spent a year playing amateur Shute Shield rugby in Australia before signing for Coventry, scoring 14 tries in 24 appearances.
He is a wildcard recruit for the big-spending Red Bulls but he has already impressed with his powerful, athletic ball carrying.
Newcastle’s Allan Ferrie hails from Scottish farming stock and is a late bloomer in the professional game
JAMES PATER
Age: 19, Club: Northampton, Position: Full-back
The emergence of Pater at full-back is one of the reasons Northampton allowed George Furbank to join Harlequins.
Phil Dowson has not spoken so glowingly about a young player since Henry Pollock broke through.
Last season, Dowson said of Pater: ‘James always looks like he has time on the ball. He reads space exceptionally well, he’s strong under the high ball, his passing is top quality, he’s not afraid to carry the ball into contact or take defenders on and he finds gaps you don’t think are there.
‘He’s brave defensively, too. He’s calm, unfazed and remarkably composed for someone so young. His ceiling is incredibly high.’
The emergence of James Pater (centre) at full-back is one of the reasons Northampton allowed George Furbank to join Harlequins
FINN CARNDUFF
Age: 22, Club: Leicester Tigers, Position: Flanker
There is a rich history of abrasive forwards coming through the Tigers academy and Carnduff could be the next cab off the rank.
He captained England Under 20s to their World Cup triumph in 2024 but his development has been stalled by injuries.
The 22-year-old is a lineout-jumping flanker who could step up as Leicester’s pack adapts to life without George Martin and Hanro Liebenberg.
Leicester’s Finn Carnduff scores against Quins in the PREM Rugby Cup this month. He captained England Under 20s to their World Cup triumph in 2024
ENOCH OPOKU-GYAMFI
Age: 20, Club: Bath, Position: Lock/No 8
This time last year another young Italian in Edoardo Todaro emerged from nowhere to star on the wing for Northampton. Opoku-Gyamfi, 20, is another Azzurri man who could do likewise.
Despite still being a fringe player for his club, Opoku-Gyamfi has already worn the blue shirt of his country at senior Test level.
A sports performance student, he also helped the University of Bath to silverware last season but is set for bigger things now.
Bath’s pack is ageing so head of rugby Johann van Graan needs to bring through fresh blood. At more than 23 stone and 6ft 5in, you can’t miss Opoku-Gyamfi!
At more than 23 stone and 6ft 5in, Bath’s Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi is hard to miss!
ZACK WIMBUSH
Age: 22, Club: Exeter Chiefs, Position: Centre
At 22, Wimbush has been around the Exeter set-up for a few years now without ever really cutting the mustard.
When he was loaned to spend time with Cornish Pirates, it looked like his time as a Chief might be up. But Rob Baxter has seemingly kept the faith and the way Wimbush set up a try for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in a pre-season clash with Cardiff showed exactly what he is about.
Wimbush has pace and power. He’s a monster physically.
With Australian superstar Len Ikitau now departed, Exeter need someone to step up in midfield and Wimbush could be that man.
Zack Wimbush has pace and power and is a monster physically. This could be his time
DOM HANSON
Age: 20, Club: Sale Sharks, Position: Scrum-half
Alex Sanderson’s Sharks have signed a plethora of exceptional new talent, mainly up front in the likes of Courtney Lawes, Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis. Centre Joe Marchant is a big arrival, too.
Highly-rated former Chiefs and New Zealand scrum-half Xavier Roe is likely to start at No 9, but in that position Hanson, 20, could well emerge as a surprise package.
He’s been tipped by experienced Sale and England playmaker George Ford to have a big season and Ford is a man who knows his stuff.
Hanson suits a fast-paced game and there might be pressure on Sanderson to deliver exactly that after a turgid, underwhelming campaign last time out.
Dom Hanson could emerge as a surprise package at No9 for Sale this season
JUNIOR DENNY
Age: 18, Club: Gloucester, Position: Wing
The Cherry and Whites have recruited well with the likes of Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Jean Kleyn.
But there is real excitement at Kingsholm about the development of 18-year-old wing Denny. He was a stand-out performer for Gloucester at age-grade level last season and in the build-up to the new PREM season, he scored a try on his PREM Cup debut against Bristol.
Anyone who was at that game went home raving about his performance and so too did George Skivington. ‘
Junior did really well,’ said the Gloucester boss. ‘He’s a real one for the future. We’ve got a lot of hope for him. He’s a really good lad, really humble, and wants to work hard and make an impact.’
There is real excitement at Kingsholm about the development of 18-year-old wing Junior Denny
AIDAN BOSHOFF
Age: 20, Club: Bristol Bears, Position: Wing
If it hadn’t been for injury, it is likely Boshoff would have been selected for senior Wales involvement last season by their head coach Steve Tandy.
Louis Rees-Zammit is the Welsh winger at Bristol who gets all the headlines. But Boshoff, 20, is a coming force in the same position.
The mullet-haired Aidan Boshoff, 20, plays on the wing for Bristol and is a coming force
Boshoff got a taste of the PREM last term after impressing for Wales Under 20s and will only get better for that experience.
He has an interesting background, too, having spent much of his childhood in Cape Town and later attending the prestigious Clifton College.
He’s hard to miss with his mullet haircut!
