With the 2025 NextGenXV Global Schools Challenge kicking off in just days, the stage is set for another spectacular showcase of the world’s best schoolboy rugby talent. From the rugby heartlands of South Africa to the historic schools of Ireland and Scotland, this year’s tournament promises to deliver unforgettable moments as future internationals battle for supremacy. While every squad arriving in Salou boasts exceptional talent, five players stand out as potential game-changers – young stars who have already announced themselves on their respective national stages and are now ready to prove themselves on the global platform. Here are the five names every scout, coach, and rugby fan should be watching when the action gets underway.
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Lamla Mgedezi (Grey College)
One of the most captivating stories in South African schools rugby this year belongs to Grey College’s Lamla Mgedezi. The 17-year-old fullback, originally from a township near Cape Town, earned a scholarship to the prestigious Bloemfontein institution and has seized his opportunity with both hands. Nicknamed “the pocket rocket” for his electrifying pace and elusive running style, Mgedezi has been virtually unstoppable throughout 2025. His hat-trick on debut in the Noord Suid against Noordheuwel announced his arrival at the highest level, and he’s maintained that form ever since – earning selection for the SA U17 EPD Programme and representing Free State’s u17 7’s side last year.
The Grade 11 sensation truly came of age at the 2025 Craven Week, where he torched the Blue Bulls defence for a hat-trick in Free State’s 52-33 victory and added another try against the Sharks. His performances earned him a place in the SA Schools squad – a remarkable achievement for a player still in Grade 11. Despite his smaller frame, Mgedezi is no one-trick pony; he’s proven himself solid under the high ball, strong in contact, and capable of match-saving defensive interventions. With comparisons to Sacha Mngomezulu for his swagger and attacking instinct, and his story echoing Siya Kolisi’s journey from township to the top, Mgedezi represents exactly the kind of transformational talent South African rugby craves. Will Lamla keep performing at a high level at this year’s Global Schools Challenge? If his 2025 form is anything to go by, international scouts should have their notebooks ready.
Finlay Anderson (Strathallan School)
Scotland’s Finlay Anderson returns to the Global Schools Challenge this year as one of the standout performers from the inaugural 2024 edition, where his majestic displays at fly-half earned him a coveted spot in the Team of the Tournament. Representing Strathallan School and Preston Lodge RFC, the talented #10 orchestrated his side’s performances with composure and skill as they impressed throughout the competition, playing what organizers described as “real panache” rugby. His performances in Bloemfontein caught the attention of selectors, and Anderson has since cemented his place in Scotland’s age-grade setup, featuring prominently in the national U18 squad.
The young playmaker’s 2025 has been marked by continued development at international level, with Anderson earning selection for Scotland U18’s summer training camp in Italy where he scored a try in the Development side’s thrilling 40-38 victory over Newcastle Falcons. He was part of the squad that faced Wales and Italy in the Dolomites in August, gaining invaluable experience training and competing against some of Europe’s best young talent. With his combination of tactical awareness, distribution skills, and composure under pressure already proven on the international stage, Anderson represents exactly the type of cerebral, playmaking #10 that modern rugby demands. His return to the Global Schools Challenge provides an opportunity to showcase how far he’s progressed since that breakthrough tournament twelve months ago.
Tristan Kemp (Grey High)
Grey High School’s Tristan Kemp is the type of match-winner every coach dreams of having at fly-half, calm under pressure, deadly accurate with the boot, and possessing the individual brilliance to unlock defenses when it matters most. The Gqeberha product announced himself on the big stage at the Grey High Rugby Festival in March 2025, where his performances earned him selection in the Team of the Tournament at #10. While his goal-kicking was reliable throughout (three conversions in the dramatic 28-28 draw with Michaelhouse), it was his match-winning try against Hilton College that truly showcased his X-factor, with less than ten minutes remaining and the game on a knife’s edge, Kemp called for the ball and showed great footwork to dodge and twist his way over the line near the posts, sealing a 20-7 victory and redemption after the heartbreaking Michaelhouse draw.
That clutch gene followed him to the FNB U18 Craven Week in July, where he steered Eastern Province to a statement 30-12 victory over Border in the Eastern Cape derby, slotting three conversions and three penalty goals with metronomic precision. Originally named as a reserve for the EP squad, Kemp’s performances throughout the season forced his way into the starting lineup, proving himself as one of the most reliable playmakers in South African schools rugby. A multi-sport athlete who also excels at cricket (scoring 95 runs in a memorable innings), Kemp brings that same composure to the rugby field – whether it’s landing pressure kicks or creating the game-breaking moment with ball in hand. His ability to perform when the stakes are highest makes him a player opposition coaches will be planning for at this year’s Global Schools Challenge.
Bobby O’Callaghan (Presentation Brothers)
Ireland U18 international Bobby O’Callaghan is one of Irish schools rugby’s most electrifying finishers, a winger blessed with blistering pace and an uncanny ability to create something out of nothing. The Presentation Brothers College Cork star was one of the breakthrough performers of the 2024/25 Munster Schools Cup campaign, earning a call-up to the national U18 squad in October 2024. His performances throughout the knock-out stages were instrumental in PBC’s march to the final, scoring crucial tries against both Crescent College Comprehensive and Castletroy College as the Cork powerhouse chased a third consecutive Munster Senior Cup title.
The March 2025 Munster Senior Cup final at Virgin Media Park showcased exactly why O’Callaghan has caught the attention of national selectors. Named in the starting lineup, he produced a moment of magic in the 16th minute that perfectly encapsulates his game-breaking ability. Making an initial 60-metre break that electrified the crowd, he then received the ball again on halfway and there was simply no stopping him – demonstrating incredible balance and determination as he powered over the tryline for a spectacular score. Whether deployed as a starter or impact player from the bench, O’Callaghan’s ability to strike from anywhere on the field makes him a constant threat. With Ireland U18 honours already in his pocket and a proven track record of delivering on the biggest stages of Irish schools rugby, O’Callaghan arrives at the Global Schools Challenge as one of the most exciting young prospects in Irish rugby – a player who can change a game in the blink of an eye.
Jacobus de Villiers (Oakdale)
Power, pedigree, and promise, Jacobus de Villiers embodies all three as one of South African schools rugby’s most exciting young back-row forwards. The Oakdale powerhouse comes from serious rugby stock as the younger brother of Paul de Villiers, who earned a place in NextGenXV’s team of the decade. But Jacobus is carving out his own legacy, having been identified as one of only a handful of elite prospects selected for both the U16 and U17 EPD camps, a testament to his exceptional development trajectory. Named in NextGenXV’s prestigious “Rookie 5” for 2025, de Villiers combines devastating ball-carrying ability with intelligent positional play at Number 8, drawing comparisons to his idol Duane Vermeulen for his powerful running and impact in contact.
The 2025 season saw de Villiers translate that potential into consistent high-level performances, representing SWD Eagles at Craven Week before earning the ultimate honour: selection for the SA Schools squad. His journey to the top has been built on a philosophy of enjoying the game while competing at the highest level, advice he readily shares with younger players: “Focus on enjoying rugby and don’t let other aspects of the game take over.” That mindset served him well at the inaugural NextGenXV Global Schools Challenge in December 2024, where his dominant displays at the breakdown and in the loose earned him a richly deserved spot in the Team of the Tournament. As part of an Oakdale side that contributed three players to that select XV (alongside props Kai Pratt and scrumhalf Jandrian Goosen), de Villiers showcased the complete skill set that has provincial and national selectors excited about his future. Returning to the Global Schools Challenge with SA Schools honours in his pocket, de Villiers represents the next generation of Springbok back-row talent.
