The match serves as a key part of England’s preparations for their three-Test summer tour to Argentina and the United States, with further tour details to be announced soon.
Commenting on the game, England Men’s Head Coach Steve Borthwick, said:
"This game presents an exciting opportunity to see some of the rising stars of the game in action.
“It's always an incredible occasion when England faces France, and we're looking forward to creating a memorable experience for everyone involved.”
“The match will be a valuable opportunity for the players to test their skills against a tough opponent and strengthen their chances for tour selection.”
The main objective is to increase the collective experience of the players. “Today, we have a population of players who are not necessarily regularly called upon by the men's French national team and who are too old to play for the Under-20s.”
“It's a great opportunity for these players to get some playing time and get used to the French team's game plan," explains Jean-Marc Lhermet, FFR vice president in charge of high level.
The British & Irish Lions tour of Australia will be in full swing, with many of the union's top internationals out on Lions duty. This fixture will give both England and France the opportunity to blood some of the most exciting young talent that both nations have to offer.
We take a look at the top prospects from each union that could feature in this fixture and announce them on the international stage.
The English contenders
As England continues to develop world-class talent, a new wave of young players is stepping into the spotlight. Here’s a look at five promising players who could feature in the English XV for their June clash versus a French XV side:
Henry Pollock (Flanker, Northampton Saints)
Henry Pollock has emerged as a standout in English rugby, claiming the 2024 Under-20 Six Nations Player of the Championship award and being a pivotal member of the England team that claimed the 2024 U20 World Championship title.
At just 19, Pollock has amassed 15 caps for Northampton, scoring 30 points in the process, seeing him selected for England A back in November. His performances have also come in the green and gold of Northampton, not only in the Gallagher Premiership but recently taking the European Champions Cup by storm.
Pollock will be one that England head coach Borthwick will be keen to expose to international rugby as soon as possible. The game against the French XV would be the perfect opportunity for Pollock to cement himself as an England Test match regular.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Prop, Sale)
A powerhouse in the front row, Asher Opoku-Fordjour has been making waves at Sale and more recently gaining his first England cap during the Autumn Nations Series. The young prop’s scrummaging strength and mobility around the park have earned him accolades in the U20 competitions and higher, but unlikely to make the Lions tour squad at this stage of his career, Borthwick will be keen to give him more time at the international level.
Afolabi Fasogbon (Prop, Gloucester)
The young man who has made a name for himself in the west country, donning the cherry and white of Gloucester, has had an impressive start to his professional career. Most famous for waving off England main man Ellis Genge in a Premiership clash with Bristol Bears.
Guy Pepper (Back-row, Bath)
England’s back-row options are plentiful, but Bath’s Guy Pepper is making a strong case to lead the pack. The 21-year-old was a standout performer for Newcastle last season, finishing second in the regular-season tackling stats (behind Harlequins' Will Evans) and fifth in turnovers won. Now at the Recreation Ground, Pepper is showcasing his abilities in attack. After representing England A in their win over Portugal in February, a leg injury ruled him out of the opportunity to face Australia’s second team last month. If Pepper continues his current form, he is likely to be a bolter for the England XV clash against the French XV in June 2025.
The French contenders
From there, the door is open for many up-and-coming talents who could tick the following boxes for the Crunch in Twickenham: players who are regulars in the men's XV, but who are no longer competing in the French championship, as well as younger players with great potential who, given the high stakes, don't necessarily have the opportunity to play in the Six Nations Championship, for example.
We have chosen just three of the dozens of potential recruits...
Gaëtan Barlot (Hooker, Castres)
Gaëtan Barlot joined Castres Olympique in 2020 and has already played 101 games for the club. The 27-year-old international hooker will be spending his final season with the club after signing a three-year deal with UBB.
He was involved in France’s tour of Australian tour in 2021, he returned to the French team for the first time two years later for the 2023 Six Nations, then for the 2024 Argentina tour (9 caps). An explosive, fast player, the 2022 Top 14 finalist excels with the ball in hand, while being active in all areas of the game, as well as mastering the fundamentals of the position, such as throwing in line-outs and scrummaging.
Mickaël Guillard (Second-row, back-row, Lyon)
The 23-year-old has played continuously for Les Bleus since the South American tour in July 2024 (5 caps, including a win over the All Blacks). Standing at an imposing 1.97m and weighing 113kg, Guillard is a true Swiss Army knife, capable of playing in all second and third-row positions thanks to his power, mobility and endurance.
A key man at Lyon, he is an outstanding defensive player (second best in the Top 14 last season), with a 91% success rate in tackles (241, third best). In 91 matches in all competitions, he has only received three yellow cards.
Théo Attissogbe (Back-three, Section Paloise)
A last-minute replacement for the sick Damian Penaud against Japan, Théo Attissogbe (3 caps) sustained a left knee injury that forced him to take a six-week recovery. At just 19, he was named Top 14 Revelation of the Year at the Nuit du Rugby 2023, succeeding Émilien Gailleton, his Palois team-mate and another potential prospect.
During the U20 World Championships with France in 2023, he shone during the competition, playing five matches. Agile, quick and good in one-on-one situations, he made his mark in the Top 14 with Pau, scoring nine tries in 36 games, including 33 as a regular.
