England hopeful chooses to remain in France, ruling himself out of Steve Borthwick’s plans

Kpoku joined Racing 92 in 2023 after coming through the academies at Saracens and Exeter Chiefs.

While based in France, he featured in England U20s’ victorious 2024 Six Nations campaign and was also part of the squad that won the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.

He was later included in the England squad for the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship and Six Nations.

Although overseas-based players are eligible to represent England at youth level, RFU regulations prevent them from being selected for the senior team.

Sale Sharks had been linked with Kpoku at the beginning of 2026, with expectations growing that he would return to England to pursue his dream of international rugby with the national side.

Instead, he joined Toulon on loan from Racing 92 until the end of the season, and L'Equipe reports that the move is now set to become permanent, with Toulon offering him a three-year contract.

Kpoku was no longer part of Racing’s plans despite being contracted with the Parisian club until 2027. Toulon, eager to retain him, will pay Racing a transfer fee.

Talks over a permanent transfer have been ongoing since April, and the French publication reports that an agreement has now been reached.

Kpoku, who is of Congolese heritage and has family living in France, previously stated that his ambition was to play for England.

In January 2025, during an interview with RugbyPass, he said, "Right now, my goal is to fight for an England place at the 2027 World Cup.

"That would be the dream scenario for me. I haven’t made that public, until now, but I’ve made it privately. I speak to Steve Borthwick and Conor O’Shea on a regular basis. I do want to return to England at some point.”

However, it now appears the France-eligible player, who will qualify as JIFF by the end of the year, may have taken a different direction, at least for the time being.

His brother Joel was previously with Top 14 club Section Paloise before leaving in January, and he now plays for Nice in the Nationale, the third tier of French rugby.