Rugby is a sport steeped in tradition.
It is a sport that is rare in its love of tradition, and its embrace of a rich history. There are ancient trophies, clubs with storied rivalries and a common agreement of deep respect and fellow dignity.
This is shown in two popular mantras; “A hooligan’s sport played by gentlemen” and my personal favourite, “The sport that’s played in heaven”.
However, this can create an atmosphere around our sport that is very old-fashioned, buttoned up, a sport from a time gone by.
However, in the following three examples, I will illustrate three reasons that rugby fans should get excited about what this coming year has to offer.
A key point of this is the significant emergence of new talent. I can hear people banging on the keyboard stating that there have always been prodigies and kid superstars. However, a larger trend is emerging in young players competing like seasoned veterans with personality.
Social media presence and cheeky personalities with the same respect are central to the game.
1. Exciting new styles of play and increasing quality of competition
I am a serious rugby fan but even I can state that some matches can be penalty goal battles with long periods of sticking it up the jumper, which is simply “boring ugly rugby”.
It is very difficult to get new audiences when the semi-final between England and South Africa at the last World Cup was a kicking battle.
However, since then the games have become more engaging with closer results. The Pumas against South Africa and New Zealand, the Wallabies win at the home of rugby and Italy’s successful Six Nation campaign are just to name a few.
Many games are free-flowing. Young players feel free to maybe kick and back themselves or give their all on defence.
Games are nail-biting with multiple tries and finally, attacking structures are built around creativity and individuality.
Players like Italy’s Paolo Garbisi or the veteran of flair Finn Russell are perfect models of why 2025 will present exciting rugby for the audience.
Six Nations with a truly competitive contest will be a must-watch.
Finally, a Rugby Championship where all four teams play engaging rugby, particularly the Pumas ascent under Felipe Contepomi and Australia under Joe Schmidt.
Club rugby will also be a must-watch. Australia Super Rugby teams still have a gap to close in terms of results but the talent and increasing competition are incredibly promising.
The Reds and Brumbies with stacked rosters as well as the Waratahs with the fable league convert Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, are the perfect example of this new talent entering rugby in 2025.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
In Europe, powerhouse Leinster being led by prodigy Sam Prendergast as well as Jack Crowley for Munster provides great promise for Irish rugby as well as the English Premiership with the Northampton Saints and Harlequins making good with their young talent.
The French will join them in the Europe Champions Cup which is sure to be outstanding with action-packed matches.
The match between Italian side Benetton and English side Bath with a close win to the Italians 22-21 shows the great competition present in club rugby.
Of course, you should barrack for your country but don’t abandon your club colours next year, it will be electric.
2. French Tour of New Zealand with Superman himself, Antonie Dupont
Few teams have the same history and notoriety for winning as the All Blacks.
They were one disallowed try by Aaron Smith and a single point from becoming the first team to have four Webb Ellis Cups on their jerseys.
That team from last September is pretty different from the last match a few weeks ago.
Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo’unga and Smith are key players missing from the Kiwi squad but that’s not to say the team is completely washed.
Antoine Dupont of France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Some great results against England, Ireland and Argentina still show their competitive nature but it’s clear the young team may need some more time to grow into the fearsome All Blacks of the past.
This opportunity to grow is going to NZ in 2025 in the form of a 28-year-old Frenchman.
Fresh off his World Sevens Player Award, Antoine Dupont will bring his X-factor skills and wizardry along with the flair of his French team looking for a fresh challenge.
Again, after the heartbreaking loss against South Africa at their home World Cup, it is a young team wanting to prove themselves as one of the best teams in the world.
Though the Lions will be the focus of the rugby community, the series is not to be missed with two youthful squads playing for more pride than usual.
3. The 2025 Lions Tour of Australia
One of the highlights of the global rugby calendar, the Lions are in my opinion, the magnum opus of rugby in its incredibly talented players wanting to make a name for themselves in the regal red and the hosting nation hopes to peak and play their best rugby.
The most recent series in South Africa was not to be rude but a ghost of a series with large COVID-19 restrictions with neither the atmosphere nor intensity of previous series like New Zealand in 2017.
This series which takes place next July, will have hopeful Lions compete for seats on the flight to Australia.
It is sure to have an Irish tint with Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park and Andrew Porter being seen as locks for the squad with many others like Tadhg Beirne and James Lowe also in the mix.
Ireland players, Garry Ringrose, Joe McCarthy and Caelan Doris celebrate their side’s first try scored by team-mate Josh van der Flier. (Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Whilst it will definitely be tinted green, the young talent from England and Scotland will provide extra sauce to the series with Marcus Smith being a lock in the 10 jersey as well as Sione Tuipulotu providing electric pace and power to the 12 channel.
The team seems to be a youngsters’ team, a fresh opportunity to play at the highest international level since the World Cup.
The Wallabies are not to be discounted either with the obvious answer of Suaalii being a spark in the team.
But to keep to the fire metaphor, he has lit the fire that was already building and continuing to grow under Joe Schmidt; Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright, Angus Bell, Rob Valetini, Andrew Kellaway and Fraser McReight just to name a few.
The youthful team led by Harry Wilson has had a wonderful Autumn Series and their strong win in Twickenham shows the doubtful and arrogant South African commentators that there will be a somewhat watchable series.
Harry Wilson of the Wallabies. (Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Now, it’s too early to make predictions on score but it is clear that players under 30 will create an incredibly entertaining series that the sport needs.
Rugby is the greatest sport in the world. Biased I know but the inclusion of more flair and an increasing number of youngsters in pivotal roles makes 2025 the most exciting year for rugby to date.
Is that over-exaggerated? Probably.
Will the Wallabies win a match against the Lions? Who knows.
But don’t turn away from the game played in heaven.
