Ranking England's loosehead and tighthead prop options ahead of the new season

No scrum, no win. It is an inexorable truth that Steve Borthwick will know all too well, and England have learned the hard way.

It was only two years ago that England were being scrummaged out of the World Cup by South Africa in the second half of the semi-final, and the future of England’s props did not look promising. Fast forward two years and the picture is completely different – new players have emerged, players have come of age and others have returned to their best.

Even discounting the players that are stationed abroad – Toulon tighthead Kyle Sinckler has hinted at an England return – and those players that are yet to be capped – it is only a matter of time before 21-year-old Gloucester tighthead Afolabi Fasogbon is playing Test rugby – Borthwick has plenty of high-class operators on either side of the front-row.

So here is what the rankings of England’s loosehead and tighthead props may look like with the new Gallagher PREM season upon us. The players will be ranked in four tiers: ‘locked in’ – those not only guaranteed to make an England squad, but very likely to start, ‘safe’ – those expected to make a wider England squad, but will by vying for a bench spot, ‘in the mix’ – those who could make their way into Borthwick’s wider squad with a strong start to the season, and ‘work to do’ – those who are capped but largely out of contention currently.

Fixture

Internationals

England

25 - 7

Full-time

Australia

All Stats and Data

Looseheads 

Locked in – Ellis Genge
While the adage in modern rugby for a player who finds themself on the bench is that ‘they’re not dropped, they’ve just had their role changed,’ it was nevertheless baffling that Genge found himself on the bench for the final two British & Irish Lions Tests against Australia after a first Test where his carrying looked the best it’s been. Then again, the Bristolian made quite an impact as a sub in the second Test to deliver the series and show why he is one of the best looseheads in the game, and undoubtedly the first choice for England.

Safe – Fin Baxter
At the age of 30, Genge still has a good few miles left in the tank, but he will have stiff competition from the 23-year-old Baxter as the years go by. The Harlequin was given the No.1 jersey in Genge’s absence against Argentina and showed exactly what he brings to the table. Not stylistically the same, Baxter’s work-rate sets him apart, operating almost like a back-row. Genge may hold the starting berth for the time being, but it is not inconceivable that by the time the World Cup comes around, Baxter will be the starting loosehead and Genge will be deployed as firepower from the bench.

In the mix – Bevan Rodd
Rodd isn’t new to Test rugby; he made his debut four years ago, but he has yet to fully establish himself as a Test regular. He came on as a replacement for Baxter in the two Test victories over Argentina in July, then produced a demolition job in the scrum when starting against the USA, but will want to show – and perhaps improve – his scrummaging expertise against the higher-ranked nations. The 25-year-old’s scrummaging has really developed over the past 18 months to add to his strengths in the loose.

Work to do – Beno Obano
Being a pivotal member of the front-row of the Gallagher PREM champions will keep Obano in the shop window, but he will know who stands ahead of him currently, compounded by the fact that the likes of Asher Opoku-Fordjour are comfortable on either side of the scrum.

Tightheads 

Locked in – Will Stuart
Last season was undeniably Stuart’s breakthrough season in Test rugby, where he moved out of the shadow of Dan Cole and established himself as England’s tighthead. The cornerstone of an England scrum that barely went backwards last season, oppressive in defence and with some nifty footwork for a 135kg unit. Fresh from three Lions Test appearances, which may have only raised his game.

📣 Joe Heyes appreciation post 📣

The @LeicesterTigers prop has been named our Player of the Summer Tour – as voted for by you, the fans 🙌

Tap below for your chance to win his signed shirt 👇

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 25, 2025

Safe

Joe Heyes
A team’s scrum is only as good as its replacement front-row, and Heyes joined Stuart in having a breakthrough season. There were concerns as to how England’s tightheads would get on without Stuart against Argentina; the Leicester Tiger only finished the summer by being voted England’s player of the tour. Great season for his club, huge summer, granted an Elite Player Squad contract – he will be pushing Stuart all the way this season.

Asher Opoku-Fordjour 
At the age of 21, the sky’s the limit for Opoku-Fordjour. Sometimes playing in multiple positions can hamper a player’s chances of starting – think Marcus Smith – but a prop that can operate as a loosehead and tighthead is pure gold in professional rugby. That versatility will keep him in Borthwick’s squads moving forward, but it may still be too early for the head coach to turn to him to play against the world’s elite.

In the mix – Trevor Davison
Like Opoku-Fordjour, Davison is another ambidextrous prop, but is 12 years the senior of the Sale Sharks starlet. The Northampton Saint was given a runout from the bench against the USA in July, but with the next generation of tightheads coming through in England, Borthwick may start to look at blooding them in now in time for the World Cup.

Work to do – Harry Williams
Back in the PREM after two seasons in the Top 14, joining Harlequins over the summer, so he makes this list, but the soon-to-be 34-year-old 19-cap prop’s Test career is over.