#3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Snapped up by Sale Sharks from the wreckage of the Wasps academy’s financial turmoil, Opoku-Fordjour took a detour to National League outfits Stourbridge and Sedgley Tigers for the latter part of the 2022/23 season.
Since making waves as an England age-grade sensation at the U20s Junior World Championship in Cape Town, the rising star has swiftly ascended the pecking order at Sale in recent months.
England Test loosehead Joe Marler didn’t waste a moment in expressing his admiration when he briefly crossed paths with the youngster at The Stoop in early December, offering his thoughts on live TV. Marler exclaimed, “There is a young tighthead that has come off the bench for Sale.
“He replaced James Harper in the warm-up, something like that… I have got a big thing about young, up-and-coming front-rowers. Fin Baxter for us… but this guy, (Sale’s) No18, I like the look of.”