At first glance, age grade rugby is all about the overall performance of the team, but in truth, it’s about the individuals.

When avid rugby fans cast their eyes to the World Rugby U20 Championship, which has already begun in South Africa, they will not just be looking to support their nation but scout out the potential stars of the future that can make a name for themselves in the senior team later down the line.

Some players are already edging closer to the spotlight, making names for themselves in clubs across the world. And then there are some waiting for the perfect chance to break onto the scene.

And where better than a World Championship? With the eyes of the world on them, these young lads have the chance to kick-start their careers. So who should we be keeping an eye on in the coming weeks?

Lewis Chessum

Lewis Chessum’s profile has been pumped up by the trajectory of his older brother Ollie Chessum, who, despite being in the infancy of his career, has already won a Premiership title and worn the English red rose.

Those are big boots for Lewis to fill, but it appears he intends to fulfil the prophecy and then some. The 20-year-old is a bit of a freak of nature, standing at 6 foot 9 in the English U20s second row.

He captains the side and is a leader amongst men, bringing a level of brawn and physicality to the pitch, which sets him up seamlessly for life in the top flight.

Unlike his brother, he plays purely at lock, which means his skillset is already clearly mapped out. His real asset is his size which makes him look like a man among boys when playing for the U20s. That, paired with his leadership credentials, will make him a key figure in England’s chances this summer.  

Sam Prendergast

In many ways, Sam Prendergast is the antithesis of Chessum. The slim fly-half is known more for his creativity with the ball in hand than his tackling technique without it. For the last year, Prendergast has been the beating heart of the Irish attack, operating in a similar non-conformist way to that of Finn Russell.

His decision-making is impeccable, but what really makes him stand above the rest are the tools he carries in his pocket for unlocking a defence, ranging from a subtle cross-field kick to an audacious out-the-back offload.

There’s little Prendergast won’t try on a rugby field, and that paid off immensely earlier in the year when he led his nation to a Grand Slam in the U20s Six Nations.

With Johnny Sexton’s retirement looming, the Leinster Academy product will be making his future claim for that ten jersey, so expect fireworks from him in the coming weeks.

Posolo Tuilagi

Just when you thought the Tuilagi clan had finished producing enormous rugby specimens, Posolo Tuilagi, the son of Henry Tuilagi, rocks up.

Close to two metres tall and weighing almost 150kg, Posolo is a freak of nature. When he made his Top 14 debut at the start of the season for Perpignan, the 18-year-old looked in complete control as he began folding established professional players in half.

Stopping a man of his size is an almost impossible task, and the sheer enormity of it becomes even more evident when he plays age-grade rugby.  

In France’s second game of the U20 World Championship, Tuilagi terrorised the New Zealand pack, scoring two tries in a player-of-the-match performance which helped guide France to a crucial 35-16 win.

Also on the scoresheet were French U20 and Clermont scrumhalf Baptiste Jauneau, who deserves an honourable mention for already being an outright starter in the Top 14 in a position which demands a high level of maturity.

Peter Lakai

When someone’s touted as the heir apparent to Ardie Savea, you know there must be something about them. Peter Lakai is that guy.

The young back-rower has played for the Hurricanes seven times in Super Rugby this season and has never looked out of place. His balance of speed, impressive work rate and effectiveness in the jackal has made him the figurehead of the New Zeeland U20s pack.

He’ll be a central factor in their hunt for another U20s title and definitely, one to watch, not just over the summer but in the coming years, as he establishes himself as a prime back-rower in the southern hemisphere.

Teddy Wilson

Australian U20 team captain Teddy Wilson is part of the new age of Wallaby rugby.

With six Super Rugby appearances for the Waratahs, including a quarter-final cameo against the Blues, Wilson has a fair share of top-level experience to call up when leading out his Junior Wallabies side and has the distribution skills to steer his team towards a championship victory.

After narrowly beating Fiji and subsequently losing to Ireland, Australia are teetering on the edge and now needs to beat England in their final group game if they are to progress to the knockouts. With Wilson around, that hope is still very much alive.