5 players to keep a close eye on during this year’s Six Nations

The 2022 Guinness Six Nations Championship is widely expected to be among the most keenly-contested in its history.

England, Ireland and France are clear favourites to battle it out for silverware, but there is plenty to enthuse about across the board.

Here, the PA news agency looks at five players who could make a mark in the competition.

For a player who was born on Valentine’s Day, it is understandable why rugby fans are smitten with Harlequins and England fly-half Smith. A rare talent – arguably the English game’s most exciting newcomer since an 18-year-old Jonny Wilkinson arrived on the Test match stage in 1998 – Smith has the ability, all-court game and composure that could see him drive England’s game to another level. Already a Premiership title winner with his club and a British and Irish Lion, the 22-year-old made his mark during this season’s Autumn Nations Series, kicking a match-winning penalty against world champions South Africa. He could light up the Six Nations like no other player.

Wales have never been short of outstanding openside flankers, with Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric the latest to maintain a proud tradition of world-class quality. In Basham, Wales have another prospect and he shone during the autumn campaign, making considerable impacts against the likes of New Zealand and South Africa. He emerged via the Welsh grassroots club game at Talywain and Cross Keys, and 22-year-old Basham has risen to every challenge so far in his career. With Tipuric set to miss the entire Six Nations through a shoulder injury suffered last summer, Basham knows he will need to step up again.

Canada-born hooker Ashman qualifies for Scotland through his Edinburgh-born father and the 21-year-old has wasted no time