Steve Borthwick's potential World Cup plans dented with latest Top 14 deal

Any hopes England may have had of adding one of their brightest young prospects to next year’s World Cup squad have all but expired after Junior Kpoku committed his future to Toulon, as reported by RugbyPass in January.

The versatile England U20 forward, capable of playing lock and flanker, had been linked with a move to Sale Sharks while he was still at Racing 92 earlier in the season, a transfer that would have made the 20-year-old eligible for Steve Borthwick’s England side under the RFU’s overseas player policy.

Instead, he signed a loan deal with the three-time Investec Champions Cup winners in January, joining the Anglo diaspora on the Cote d’Azur, which also includes Kyle Sinckler, captain David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam and Zach Mercer. Toulon have now announced that he has signed permanently, leaving one of England’s most highly-rated second-row prospects outside the international picture for the foreseeable future.

Kpoku was integral to England’s World Rugby U20 Championship victory in 2024, playing alongside senior internationals Henry Pollock and Asher Opoku-Fordjour. He will remain part of the English contingent in the Top 14 who are off limits for Borthwick.

Worse still for England, Kpoku will become JIFF qualified later this year, having spent three years at a French club before the age of 21, which opens the door for Toulon to recruit a foreign player while still meeting their quota of JIFF players. In two years’ time, he will qualify for France on residency grounds, meaning Fabien Galthie may be edging closer to recruiting him for Les Bleus. He has, however, previously expressed his desire to represent England over France.  

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The announcement formed part of a major overhaul at Stade Mayol in terms of both players and coaches. Toulon confirmed the return of former ASM Clermont-Auvergne boss Franck Azéma as head coach, with the Frenchman replacing Pierre Mignoni in the role, although Mignoni will remain director of rugby.

Former England international Alex Codling has also joined from Munster to take charge of the forwards, while Scotland centre Huw Jones and France internationals Gaël Fickou and Rabah Slimani headline an ambitious recruitment drive.