As England gears up for a thrilling summer tour, the spotlight falls on the crucial selection of the back-three players who promise to ignite the field with a blend of flair, power, and innate talent.
England’s Summer Tour: A Challenge Awaits
England’s summer tour kicks off with a clash against Japan in June, followed by an eagerly awaited journey to New Zealand, marking their first visit to the Kiwi nation since 2014. Both teams find themselves in transition, grappling with the departure of key players post-World Cup, compounded by New Zealand’s embrace of a new head coach, Scott Robertson.
Fullback – George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
In a surprising turn of events during the 2024 Six Nations, George Furbank edged out Freddie Steward for the fullback position, bringing a touch of flair and versatility to the role.
Despite facing criticism following his international debut in 2020, Furbank has honed his skills and now stands poised to claim the starting fullback spot for England, even at the expense of Steward.
Drawing comparisons to Ireland’s influential Hugo Keenan, Furbank is primed to take the initiative against Japan and New Zealand, rather than waiting for opportunities to arise.
Winger – Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Sleightholme epitomizes the natural-born finisher, thriving within Northampton Saints’ attacking ethos. As the Premiership’s top try-scorer, Sleightholme’s rapid ascent suggests he’s destined to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jon, onto the international stage.
With blistering pace and unwavering determination, he’s notched an impressive 14 tries in just 12 Premiership appearances this season, putting him in contention alongside sharp operators like Sale’s Aaron Reed and Bath’s Will Muir.
Winger – Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso emerges as the fastest-rising star in English rugby, making waves for both club and country since making the leap from National One with Taunton Titans to the Premiership last summer.
His recent standout performance against Quins showcased his multifaceted skill set, combining robust defense, sharp awareness, and an insatiable hunger for possession.
Balancing his rugby pursuits with studies in medicine at Exeter University, Feyi-Waboso’s potential remains untapped, with Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter highlighting room for further growth and development.
With George Furbank, Ollie Sleightholme, and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso leading the charge, England’s back-three promises to be a formidable force, capable of causing headaches for any team in the world this summer.
Best-paid rugby players list REVEALED: French newspaper name top earners…
RUCK.co.uk examines the top six highest-paid players in the world. We’ve based our figures on reports from trusted news sources and databases to boost our accuracy.
All figures mentioned are before tax – unless specified – and do not include bonuses, extra fees and players’ various sponsorship deals which, in some cases, can instantly double their annual income.
Highest-paid rugby players in the world 2023
6. Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – £610,000
During his tenure at Montpellier, the Springbok fly-half was known as one of the highest-earning players in the sport, purportedly receiving an annual salary exceeding one million.
However, his transfer to Leicester Tigers entailed a reduction in pay, although he is still believed to be earning a respectable sum at Welford Road.
5. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) – £700,000
The Les Bleus’ talisman is undoubtedly leading one of the most exciting teams on the international stage, all while helping to change the perception of the sport.
