Five players under 21 to look out for in the World Rugby Nations Cup

The World Rugby Nations Cup will usher in a new era of thrills and rivalries for fans of Georgia, the United States of America, Samoa, Portugal, Chile, Canada, Spain, Uruguay, Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe, Tonga and Romania, who will be eager to watch their teams go at it from Saturday.

With anticipation building ahead of the competition, here are five of the most exciting U21 prospects eager to help their nations write a new chapter in history.

From former U20 captains to already full-fledged Pro D2 stars, here are five players you should be following from tomorrow.

Manuel Vareiro (Portugal)

Age: 21
Club: Provence Rugby (Pro D2)
Highlighting stat: Nailed 14 points in Portugal’s 19-17 win over Georgia
First cap: vs Namibia in 2024

From an amateur club setup in June 2025 to becoming a leading figure for Pro D2 side Provence, Manuel Vareiro has experienced an exhilarating year of rugby, helping Portugal conquer the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship for the first time in 23 years.

The utility back has a cannon for a foot, taking kicks from all over the park and nailing crucial points that have helped Portugal and Provence over the last 12 months.

At the same time, Vareiro, who is a cousin of Jerónimo Portela, is an operator who can change the course of a match with a slick flick of his hands, creating a try-scoring opportunity in an instant.

With Portugal aiming for the top of the Nations Cup, Vareiro will certainly be one of the protagonists among the gritty Lobos, setting up plays and delivering match-winning kicks.

Jean Cotarmanac’h (Uruguay)

Age: 21
Club: RC Vannes (Top 14)
Highlighting stat: Scored 19 points in France’s U20 Six Nations win in 2025
First cap: vs Portugal in 2025

A cunning magician, a gifted operator and a slick speedster, Jean Cotarmanac’h will have a major impact on Uruguay’s World Rugby Nations Cup campaign, with fans expecting the fly-half to lead them to new heights.

Born in France, the utility back opted to play for his father’s nation after representing France at U20 level and debuted for Los Teros in 2025, helping them defeat Portugal and Romania.

The way Cotarmanac’h reads the game is quite unique, identifying opportunities at every turn and devising a plan to help his team get closer to its ultimate goal.

Having helped Vannes conquer Pro D2 for a second time in under three years, the elusive No.10 will be more than ready to step in and inspire Uruguay to overcome Georgia, Hong Kong China and Romania.

Nicolas Saab (Chile)

Age: 21
Club: Selknam (Super Rugby Americas)
Highlighting stat: Scored one of the winning tries in Chile’s win over Samoa
First cap: vs Romania in 2025

Selknam has developed some of the finest talents in Chilean rugby, with Nicolas Saab one of the latest. The centre, who can also feature on the wing, was involved in his nation’s successful 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign, crossing the whitewash in a decisive win against Samoa last summer.

Saab has a special kind of spark capable of setting the pitch alight, igniting something truly special within his team with a simple sprint, while also delivering powerful hits with the ease of a bulldozing centre.

On the other hand, his knack for delivering spectacular, fearsome tackles has helped him become recognised as one of the top talents in South American rugby, seemingly destined for greatness.

Having scored two tries in seven caps, Saab will be one of Lemoine’s sharpest spears ahead of the Nations Cup.

Josh McIndoe (Canada)

Age: 21
Club: UVic Vikes Men’s Rugby
Highlighting stat: Started in all three U20 Oceania Rugby Challenge Cup matches
First cap: Uncapped

The 21-year-old centre from Victoria is set to step onto the senior international stage with the same class and style he has already shown in the Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge.

His ability to move the ball at high speed can be a game-changer, especially for a Canada side looking to reawaken its backline after years in the doldrums.

Alongside his offensive skillset, McIndoe brings a physical edge to the backline, consistently imposing himself in defence and shutting down attacking threats when needed.

While the centre didn’t have the chance to earn his first cap last November, he will undoubtedly be ready to start carving out his name and producing some showstopping moments for Canada this July.

Andro Dvali (Loose forward)

Age: 20
Club: USA Perpignan (Top 14)
Highlighting stat: Captained Georgia at U18 and U20 level
First cap: Uncapped

The sole forward in this list, and deservedly so, is Andro Dvali, a human mountain who will knock down the opposition in a bid to help Georgia achieve its ultimate goal.

The USA Perpignan loose forward has already showcased his physical presence in the Top 14, registering four dominant tackles from 10 completed tackles and disrupting opposition set-pieces with two lineout steals across five appearances for the Catalan side.

Dvali was also one of the best U18 and U20 prospects developed by Georgia, scoring nine tries in under three years and captaining his nation to the U18 Rugby Europe Championship title and a ninth-place finish at the Junior World Championship.

While Mikheil Shioshvili has stolen the headlines, Andro Dvali deserves the same level of respect, as the utility forward will certainly help the Lelos regain their former strength and power.