"Noah Caluori" - Five England hopefuls who impressed from the PREM weekend

Across the league, several players delivered performances that will not have gone unnoticed by Steve Borthwick and his coaching staff.

Here, we pick out five England hopefuls who stood out over the weekend, shining when it mattered most in the Premiership’s last pre-Christmas fixtures.

Leicester’s emphatic win over Gloucester owed plenty to Ollie Hassell-Collins, who delivered a standout performance on the wing. Despite growing speculation about a possible switch of international allegiance to Wales, he remains firmly in the England conversation for now – and displays like this only strengthen that case.

Gloucester’s evening was summed up by a chaotic moment just before half-time. After Searle chipped laterally, Hassell-Collins reacted quickest, grubbering between two defenders and tearing away towards the try line.

England centre Seb Atkinson showed brilliant desperation with a superb tap tackle, but the danger wasn’t over. Hassell-Collins regathered and stretched for the line, only for Charlie Atkinson to slide in off his feet to stop him. The infringement resulted in a sin-bin and a penalty try.

It was a moment that captured Hassell-Collins’ influence: relentless, dangerous and decisive. He consistently troubled Gloucester’s defence and popped up when it mattered most. While Adam Radwan’s pace often draws headlines, it was Hassell-Collins who truly shone here, offering a more rounded threat across the pitch.

Still uncapped at senior international level, George Hendy continues to make a compelling case for England consideration. At just 23, the fullback is quietly establishing himself as one of the Premiership’s most reliable performers.

Against Sale, Hendy scored twice and caused constant problems with his direct, aggressive running. Deployed on the wing for this match, he mixed composure with ambition, setting up one try and finishing two of his own. One score, in particular, stood out – a moment of genuine magic as his sharp footwork left Tom O’Flaherty grasping at air down the left touchline.

There was a blemish, a pass that led to O’Flaherty’s intercept try, but it did little to detract from an otherwise excellent outing that underlined Hendy’s growing maturity and attacking quality.

Noah Caluori’s afternoon was a mixture of promise and learning. He opened the scoring in style with a sharp interception on halfway, immediately showcasing his instincts and awareness. However, a misjudged high-ball catch later allowed Exeter Chiefs to register their first try.

Despite those inconsistencies, Caluori flashed the athleticism and finishing ability that have marked him out as a special talent. He added another score in the corner before being withdrawn in the second half. Although Saracens ultimately fell to defeat at Exeter, Caluori once again demonstrated why he is so highly rated, and why he has already been invited into England training camps as one of the game’s brightest young prospects.

Bristol’s demolition of Harlequins at the Allianz Stadium was built on dominance up front, and Gabriel Oghre was central to that effort. The lineout functioned smoothly throughout, providing a solid platform for Bristol’s attack.

Oghre’s try was the highlight of his night – and one he had no obvious right to score. Crashing through three defenders, he showed remarkable strength and determination to get close enough to reach out and ground the ball.

The 27-year-old has just one England cap to his name so far, earned on the 2025 summer tour when he was called up to replace Jamie George and Theo Dan. Making his Test debut against the United States, Oghre marked the occasion with a try, and performances like this will only fuel his hopes of adding to that tally.

At just 23, Ewan Richards is already a starting lock for the strongest team in the country, yet his name rarely comes up in England discussions. That is less a reflection of his ability and more a consequence of fierce competition in the second row, with the likes of Maro Itoje, George Martin and Ollie Chessum firmly established.

In Bath’s comprehensive win over Newcastle Red Bulls, Richards quietly put in a strong shift. With little broken-field action in the first half, he found it hard to impose himself with ball in hand. After the break, though, his athleticism came to the fore. A powerful burst of acceleration saw him surge downfield, stopped only inches short of the line. Bath scored soon after, with Richards’ carry laying the foundations.

It was a reminder that while he may currently be flying under the radar, Richards has the tools to make a bigger noise in the seasons ahead.