Rugby enthusiasts are in for a treat next month as Europe’s finest teams face off against the southern hemisphere’s powerhouses throughout November.

This period promises top-tier action and offers a platform for emerging stars to establish themselves as formidable talents on the international scene.

Join Alex Bywater from Daily Mail Sport as he spotlights 12 rising rugby stars to watch this autumn…

1. Noah Caluori

Country: England Age: 19 Position: Wing Club: Saracens

We begin with Caluori, whose remarkable emergence this season has caught the attention of many.

He was plucked from nowhere as a late injury replacement for the Saracens bench for their PREM opener with Newcastle and promptly scored on his debut. After one game with Ampthill, he ran riot against Sale with five tries on his return to the Sarries team. 

Now, he’s in the England squad as a training member but national head coach Steve Borthwick has said there is every chance he could feature this autumn. A potential Test debut against Fiji could be on the cards. 

Caluori is still a novice, but it is only a matter of time before he plays for England given his pace and eye for the try line. One thing that makes him stand out from the rest is his ability in the air, a key part of the modern game.

2. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Country: South Africa Age: 23 Position: Fly-half/full-back Club: Stormers

The new darling of Springbok rugby. Playing at No 10, Feinberg-Mngomezulu announced himself on the world stage this month against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, scoring the most points by a South African in a Test, with 37 in a 67-30 thumping of the Pumas. 

His mammoth haul included a hat-trick of tries as well as eight conversions and two penalties. The stunning display evoked comparisons with New Zealand great Dan Carter’s 33-point performance against the Lions in 2005. 

Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a potential true great of the global game. He looks set to be South Africa’s controlling force through to, and at, the 2027 World Cup. While he is still young and can get even better, he has threats across the park. The 23-year-old can run, pass and kick.

3. Jack Crowley

Country: Ireland Age: 25 Position: Fly-half Club: Munster

Crowley is not a new face on the Test scene. But he has had to play second fiddle as Ireland No 10 to new darling Sam Prendergast. 

However, Crowley has put himself ahead of Prendergast in the pecking order to start Ireland’s crunch autumn opener with New Zealand in Chicago. 

He was outstanding as his Munster team hammered Prendergast’s Leinster in a United Rugby Championship clash at Croke Park. 

That was a game of Test match intensity and showed once again that Crowley has the ability to perform at the highest level, even if some may never have doubted that.

4. Fabian Holland

Country: New Zealand Age: 23 Position: Lock Club: Highlanders

Fittingly, the giant Holland was born in the Netherlands and took up rugby despite his homeland not being known for its love of the sport. 

In 2019, he moved to New Zealand to study in Christchurch, initially only planning to stay for six months. 

Six years later, he’s not only still there, but now one of the most promising second rows in Scott Robertson’s All Blacks squad. 

At 6ft 8in and nearly 20st, Holland is a monstrous and physically imposing figure. His dominance at the lineout, impressive engine, physicality in the loose, sharp breakdown technique and smart handling make him an exciting prospect.

5. Ethan Hooker

Country: South Africa Age: 22 Position: Wing Club: Sharks

Another great rugby name but this time, nominative determinism has had a day off – Hooker is a flying winger.

South Africa aren’t exactly short of talent out wide, with the likes of Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse in their ranks. 

Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus is building a squad of incredible depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup, to the point where he can essentially field two world-class teams. 

Hooker will fit that billing on the wing. He has already earned a starting spot in Test matches in the Rugby Championship, on the back of impressive club form with the Sharks. 

With South Africa playing five autumn Tests on consecutive weekends, expect Hooker to see plenty of game time. He is rapid and takes some catching. Despite his name, however, don’t expect him to pop up in the scrum or lineout!

6. Dan Edwards

Country: Wales Age: 22 Position: Fly-half Club: Ospreys 

New Wales head coach Steve Tandy will take charge of his home nation for the first time this autumn after his summer appointment. He faces an incredibly tough challenge with Welsh rugby struggling both on and off the field. 

His November squad does look a bit stronger, with the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit and Rhys Carre back involved. 

Wales do have some young talent, even if they are a long way behind the likes of England. Ospreys No 10 Edwards comes into that category. 

He made his debut in what was a tough 2025 Six Nations and is in possession of the iconic Wales fly-half jersey after a strong summer performance in Japan. 

He should continue in the role in Wales’ opener with Argentina on November 9, at the very least.

7. Sireli Maqala

Country: Fiji Age: 25 Position: Centre Club: Bayonne

The Fijian was nominated for the TOP14 player of the year award, won by England and Toulouse flanker Jack Willis. He plays for an upwardly mobile French club in Bayonne, where he is the midfield partner of former England centre Manu Tuilagi. 

And when speaking to Daily Mail Sport at the start of this season, Tuilagi put his fine form in France partly down to the quality of his team-mate. 

Fiji are always a dangerous side with their offloading and attacking game. Maqala embodies that, but he has power too. 

Fiji face England at Twickenham on November 8. They beat Borthwick’s men at the same venue ahead of the 2023 World Cup and while that shouldn’t happen again, Maqala will be a player that England need to keep quiet.

8. Esteban Capilla

Country: France Age: 22 Position: Flanker Club: Bayonne

Capilla is another Bayonne star and part of a strong cohort of young Frenchmen coming through (again!). He has played sevens rugby for his country, but has been called up to the 15-a-side team for the first time by Fabien Galthie. 

France’s back row is stacked and Capilla is a new face, but it seems a matter of when, not if, he’ll win his first cap. That could come against Fiji. 

Capilla’s sevens background means he is an outstanding handler and runner, as he proved in Bayonne’s recent TOP14 victory over Clermont. Not only did Capilla score two tries in that game, he also showed his footballing ability with an outrageous chip kick and collection which set up a score for Mateo Carreras. 

Back rows aren’t supposed to do that. A match report in top French sports newspaper L’Equipe said Capilla’s performance was ‘close to perfection’. 

Capilla has said he’d be open to playing centre or wing as well as in the back-row because he is so quick. He’s supposedly been clocked running 23mph in a match!

9. Liam McConnell

Country: Scotland Age: 21 Position: Flanker Club: Edinburgh

A former Scotland Under 20s captain, McConnell is a new face in Gregor Townsend’s senior squad on the back of impressive performances for Edinburgh. 

In training at both club and international level, he has never been afraid to put himself about. From a young age, McConnell was incredibly physical, even competing with men far older than him. 

In pre-season with Edinburgh, he stood out by excelling in the traditional rugby ‘Bronco’ fitness test – where players have to complete shuttle runs over 20m, 40m and 60m in as quick a time as possible. 

McConnell’s club coach Sean Everitt has marked him out as a future Scotland skipper.

10. Carter Gordon

Country: Australia Age: 24 Position: Fly-half Club: Queensland Reds

Australia might have lost 2-1 to the Lions, but under Joe Schmidt they are a much-improved, if not yet world-class, team.

They will pose a serious threat to England on the autumn’s opening weekend, especially as Borthwick’s men have had limited preparation time. 

Tom Lynagh didn’t quite convince as Wallaby No 10 against the Lions, which is why Rugby Australia have brought back Gordon after a stint in rugby league. 

Cross-code switches are common Down Under, but Gordon is now back in union and could take back control of Schmidt’s men. 

He has only eight caps and is still just 24 but was backed by former England head coach Eddie Jones when he was in charge of Australia. 

While playing in league, Gordon had to deal with a serious spinal injury but is now back fit. He’s an intriguing prospect.

11. Kalvin Gourgues

Country: France Age: 20 Position: Centre Club: Toulouse

To play for a team like Toulouse – widely seen as rugby’s equivalent of Real Madrid with all their Galacticos – is no mean feat. But to excel for them at the age of just 20 is quite another. 

That’s exactly what Gourgues has done this season. In the process, he has earned himself a first senior France call. 

Gael Fickou is still only 31 and France have other talented young midfield options in Nicolas Depoortere, Emilien Gailleton and Fabien Brau-Boire. As such, Gourgues is far from guaranteed game time and this autumn may indeed amount to a learning experience for him. 

However, having watched plenty of Gourgues in action in the TOP14, it is clear he is a player of international class. 

France head coach Galthie might be unable to ignore his club form and that could lead to a first senior cap in the coming weeks.

12. Pedro Rubiolo

Country: Argentina Age: 22 Position: Lock Club: Bristol Bears

Bristol moved to poach the promising Argentine second row, who can also play in the back row, from PREM rivals Newcastle.

Rubiolo made his Pumas debut aged just 19 and looks set to be a central part of their pack in the coming years. 

He already has significant international experience for a player so young and was a regular presence for Felipe Contepomi’s side in the Rugby Championship. 

Watch out for him in the PREM in the coming months but before that in the blue and white of his country. 

Argentina face three of the four home nations in November – Wales, Scotland and England in that order – so fans will see plenty of Rubiolo in action.