Players to watch during Rugby World Cup

With two days to go till the World Cup officially commences, we take a look at some of the players that will make a big impact in the tournament for their respective teams.

Julian Savea (New Zealand)

A New Zealand Rugby Union Player who currently plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, New Zealand internationally, and the Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup.

He has also represented New Zealand at sevens and at under-20 level.

He plays on the wing. Savea is knowen as “the Bus”.

George North (Wales)

A Wales and British and Irish Lions international rugby union player.

His usual position is winger but he has also played as a centre.

He currently plays club rugby for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership.

Israel Folau (Australia)

An Australian professional rugby union footballer with the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby and with the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

Folau previously played rugby league for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL) from 2007 to 2008 where he broke the record for most tries in a debut year.

He then played with the Brisbane Broncos from 2009 to 2010.

Playing as either a wing or centre, Folau has also represented the Australian rugby league teamand Queensland in State Origin matches, becoming the youngest player to play for both teams.

For the 2011 season, Folau made his first code switch, joining the Greater Western Sydney Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

In December 2012, Folau announced he was to switch codes again, signing a one-year contract with rugby union team the Waratahs.[5]

Kieran Read (New Zealand)

A rugby union player for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition andNew Zealand internationally.

He was the IRB Player of the Year in 2013, and a member of team that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)

An Irish rugby union player.He plays for Leinster Rugby and Ireland.

While he principally plays as a Fly-half, he has also played in other positions in the back-line.

Gael Fickou (France)

A French rugby union player who plays for French club Toulouse.

His usual position is in the Centre.

Fickou made his Heineken Cup debut on 14 October 2012, scoring the only try of the game in a win against Leicester Tigers.

He made his French international debut at the age of 18 against Scotland on 16 March 2013 in the RBS 6 Nations.

Gaël Fickou scored his first try for the France against the Auckland Blues on the summer 2013 tour to New Zealand

Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

A South African international rugby player.

He currently plays for the Stormers in Super Rugby and for NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in the Japanese Top League.

His regular playing position is as a number 4 lock.

Sam Burgess (England)

An English professional rugby union player for Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership and for England.

He is a dual-code rugby international and previously played rugby league as a Great Britain and England international representative forward and in theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs of the National Rugby League and in Super League for English club Bradford Bulls.

Burgess was persuaded by Russell Crowe, co-owner of NRL club, South Sydney Rabbitohs to sign and move to Australia to play.

After doing so Burgess was selected to play for the NRL All Stars, named captain of the Rabbitohs and had his brothers Luke, Tom and George move over to play professionally in Australia as well.

In 2014 Burgess won an NRL Premiership with the Rabbitohs before returning to England to play rugby union.

He made his international rugby union debut in August 2015.

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