Five England Stars You Didn't Know Are Still Playing

Yet plenty of familiar faces are still lacing up their boots around the world, carving out new chapters far from Twickenham’s roar. Here are five who are still going strong even if it is no longer directly in the public eye.

Freddie Burns’ career has taken him on an extraordinary journey, from England caps and Premiership glory to new horizons across the globe. The fly-half, best remembered in England for his last-minute drop goal that won Leicester the 2022 Premiership final against Saracens, is now plying his trade in Romania with CS Dinamo Bucuresti.

It’s a move that sees him reunite with Carl Hogg, his former academy coach at Gloucester, after an impressive season in Japan where Burns finished as top points scorer in the second tier with Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi.

Dinamo are Romania’s second-most decorated club and play in the Liga de Rugby Kaufland. Sharing the Arcul de Triumf National Stadium with Romanian Wolves, they are central to the country’s rugby revival. For Burns, now 35, it’s another chapter in a career defined by bold choices and unforgettable moments. His debut did not disappoint, as the fly-half showed his class and scores six first-half tries in a 61-15 win for his new club this August.

Piers Francis may not be a household name, but his career has been a fascinating one, stretching across hemispheres and capped by eight England appearances between 2017 and 2019. The versatile fly-half and centre came through Saracens’ academy before heading to New Zealand to develop his game, an unusual path that helped him stand out on his return to English rugby. After a stint with Auckland and Super Rugby side the Blues, he signed for Northampton Saints in 2017, making over 60 appearances in five years.

Francis moved to Bath in 2022, where he managed 20 outings and scored 109 points, though opportunities became limited with most of his action coming in the Premiership Rugby Cup. In 2023, aged 33, he departed to join Japanese side Kurita Water Gush Akishima, adding another chapter abroad.

Probably the most well-known name on this list, Jonny May, England’s second-highest try scorer with 36 in 78 caps, has entered the twilight of his career while looking ahead to life beyond rugby. After a second stint with Gloucester and three years at Leicester, the 35-year-old joined French ProD2 side Soyaux-Angouleme last summer on a two-year deal.

May has spoken passionately about immersing himself in the club and community, while also preparing for the future, with ambitions that include a role in the RAF fire service. Following his retirement from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup, May remains committed to squeezing the most out of his final seasons. It is easy for it to go under the radar that he is still playing due to him being in the second tier of France.

He may be more familiar to fans than others on this list, thanks to the constant spotlight on Worcester’s turbulent journey, but the story of the flanker still fits the “forgotten England” mould. With four caps between 2013 and 2017, his Test career was brief, yet at club level he has been a stalwart. After spells with Gloucester, Exeter, Zebre and Coventry, he has now returned home to Worcester as the first signing of their new era. At 33, he embodies both the resilience of the Warriors and his own determination to help guide the club back to the top flight.

At 38, few would have begrudged Semesa Rokoduguni the chance to hang up his boots, yet the former England and Bath winger is still going strong. After a decade at The Rec, where he became a cult figure with 71 tries in 194 games, he headed to France with Montauban before returning to England last summer with Doncaster Knights. Four England caps never quite reflected his explosive talent, but in Yorkshire he has found a fresh stage—putting in some good performances last season while mentoring the next generation. Loved for his humility as much as his finishing, “Roko” is proving that passion for the game can outlast almost everything.