"Next Kyle Sinckler" - Three Future England Tighthead-Props To Boost Steve Borthwick's Squad

A position where England are not necessarily spoilt for choice is tight-head prop, and these three players could certainly boost the options in the number three jersey.

Borthwick's first choice tight-head is Kyle Sinkler, with veteran Dan Cole and young gun Joe Hayes the perceived back-up for the Rugby World Cup. However, it is always good to have plentiful options before a major competition.

England still have a long way to go before their opening World Cup Pool Stage match against Argentina on September 9th, with four World Cup warm-up matches to play over the summer.

Borthwick will be looking at squad depth as his side plays Wales twice, Ireland and then Fiji. Here are three future tight-head props we could expect to see in those matches, who will hope to be included in the squad for France.

19-year-old Tim Hoyt has already made five appearances for Leicester Tigers, throughout his prolonged loan spells to Nottingham in the RFU Championship. Most recently featuring off the bench for Tigers, in the Premiership Rugby Cup defeat to Newcastle Falcons, Hoyt is ticking all the boxes for an academy graduate. Already weighing in at 123kg, Hoyt is built like an international standard prop, and is only getting technically better with each passing match.

A re-occurring name on the England U20s team-sheet, Hoyt is currently featuring in the U20s Six Nations, with England off to a flying start in the competition.

Starting for his country against Scotland, Italy and Wales, Hoyt has been consistently playing just under an hour at tight-head.

Joining Sale Sharks in November last year, following the financial collapse of his former club Wasps, Asher Opuku-Fordjour has been settling well into life at the AJ Bell. Committing his long-term future to the Sharks, Opuku-Fordjour is in a fantastic environment to break through into the next stage of his career.

Asher has made his international breakthrough, having been selected for England U18s and U20s training camps.

Coming off the bench for the aforementioned Hoyt, in the first three rounds of the 2023 U20s Six Nations,

Opuku-Fordjour has been getting a good half an hour's game time in each match for England. A dynamic prop, and entertaining character, Opuku-Fordjour is projecting a bright future.

Signing for Sharks alongside former Wasps teammate Rekeiti Ma’asi White, the pair delighted Sale Academy Manager Fergus Mulchrone with their arrival.

“Rekeiti and Asher are both young players with huge potential and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to bring them to the club." Mulchrone said on Sale's official club website.

“Everyone knows what has happened at Wasps, but I’m really pleased that we can give these two lads a chance to continue their rugby careers.

“We’re building a really exciting group of young, homegrown talent at the club and Rekeiti and Asher will only add to that. We’re looking forward to working with them.”

At just 19-years-old, Afolabi Fasogbon is an imposing figure in the front row.

Standing at 6 ft 3" and weighing 128kg, Fasogbon is a dominant presence for the Exiles academy.

A versatile front rower, capable of playing on both sides of the scrum, Fasogbon is also a proven scorer, and already has his first try in an England U20s shirt.

Coming off the bench against Italy, the London Irish man got his name on the score-sheet in the 35-25 victory.

Afolabi has already experienced his first West London derby for the Exiles, as he made a substitute appearance against Harlequins, in Irish's Premiership Rugby Cup victory.

Starring for Esher in National One when on loan from Irish, Fasogbon has impressed in his time at Moseley Road, and marked his first XV debut with a try against Cinderford.