England qualified number eight Hoskins Sotutu is nearing a move to PREM outfit Newcastle Red Bulls, according to reports.
The 14-capped All Blacks forward has been linked with a PREM move for a good while now, with Gloucester and Saracens reported to be in the mix for his signature; however, according to reports from the Telegraph, Kingston Park will be his landing point after opting to join the newly taken over Red Bulls.
News of Sotutu heading to the PREM will come as welcome news to England boss Steve Borthwick, with the Blues man qualifying for the national side via his mother.
But, just where does he sit in the pecking order among the England number eight options? The position has been somewhat in limbo this autumn, following the confirmed departure of Saracens man Tom Willis to the Top 14, but Sotutu would still face a big battle to make the shirt his own.
Front-runners: Ben Earl
The Saracens man looks to have put himself in pole position this month, despite there being question marks over his selection there before the autumn. Earl has long been seen as England’s primary ball-carrier, both in the loose and the tight, but this autumn he took things to a whole new level with 185 metres from 60 carries across his three outings.
Around that, he also acts as yet another jackal threat in the explosive back-row, and seems to have quickly gelled with the likes of Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock in that respect.
Sotutu might be the new kid on the block, but he will have to usurp Earl if he wants the shirt.
In the mix: Chandler Cunningham-South, Henry Pollock, Hoskins Sotutu
Underneath the Saracens man, you’d also think Chandler Cunningham-South, Pollock and Sotutu – should he decide to make the move – will be in the discussion over number eight moving towards the 2027 World Cup.
Of the three, Sotutu has the best Test experience at the book end of the scrum, but Cunningham-South was handed the starting shirt in that position against Fiji, while Pollock was also deployed off the bench at eight in his debut and was often seen at the back of the scrum this autumn too, so they are all capable options.
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Sotutu and Cunningham-South would give Borthwick the more traditional number eight he is after, with both men being big, explosive ball carriers in the tight, but Pollock also adds a completely fresh dynamic to the mix and will act as that third flanker that Borthwick also seems to enjoy deploying.
They all do face a big task to climb up the rankings and pip Earl to the starting shirt, but with Earl’s ability to also play on the flanks, they could force Borthwick’s hand.
Outside bet: Greg Fisilau, Fitz Harding, Tom Curry
Exeter Chiefs man Greg Fisilau, Bristol Bears skipper Fitz Harding and current Pom Squad member Tom Curry could also come in and do a job at number eight if needed. While Curry has played the vast majority of his rugby, for club, country and Lions, on the flank, he had an extended spell in the eight shirt during the Eddie Jones era – while also captaining the side too. If he were to move to eight once more, it would give a real sense of continuity within the back-row given he has featured this autumn, but he is still more likely to feature on the edges of the scrum.
Fisilau and Harding are both certainly on Borthwick’s radar, too, given their England A inclusions this month, and would do a fine job in the senior squad too. Of the pair, Fisilau is the more out-and-out number eight, playing there regularly for Exeter, but Harding has also featured a lot for Bristol at eight and fits the mould too.
Both players are also getting better and better as the season progresses, and that form could easily see them called into Borthwick’s senior group sooner rather than later.
Bolters: Alfie Barbeary, Callum Chick
While they might be outside of the Test picture, Alfie Barbeary and Callum Chick continue to be among the best-performing number eights in the PREM and could easily push into the England squad.
Bath man Barbeary, who is currently suffering with a hamstring injury, has been in and around the England A set-up for some time now and will likely be in the mix once again upon his return to full fitness. He also gives England that sort of aggressive, bullish carrier in the tight that they are after.
Northampton ace Chick has also come on leaps and bounds since making the move to the East Midlands, and will be hoping to add to his caps collection sooner rather than later. He is slightly different to all the other options on this list, but his work rate around the park could add a nice dynamic to this back-row if called upon.