Emmanuel Iyogun's route to an England cap runs through a three-hour scrum masterclass with Ox Nche — a session that came about after Iyogun cold-messaged Nche on Instagram during a Springbok Test week in London. Nche not only replied but walked him to a nearby pub and spent the afternoon breaking down set-piece mechanics and broader game philosophy. Iyogun is candid that his career was already moving, but credits Nche's openness with accelerating his development meaningfully. The wider profile traces an unusual path — born in Madrid, raised in Glasgow, converted from back row to loosehead — and argues that positional versatility has made him a more complete carrier and defender than props schooled in the front row from youth. With Borthwick's autumn squad announcement imminent, the piece doubles as a timely introduction to a player pushing hard for the England No.1 jersey.
How Ox Nche's generosity helped forge England's newest prop
Iyogun credits a cold-DM scrum session with Ox Nche as a turning point on his road to an England cap — a wider profile that's worth reading ahead of Borthwick's autumn squad announcement.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Janse van Rensburg at the top of England's centre pecking order — and what it means for the Boks
Borthwick's centre headache has a new frontrunner: Janse van Rensburg is rated the likely starter at 12 for England's Tests against Fiji and Argentina, though he's ineligible for the opener against the Springboks. The piece ranks all options at 12 and 13, with Freeman locked in outside and Slade unlucky to be on the fringes.
Springboks Through Irish Eyes: Gráinne Seoige on Loftus, Rassie, and Why SA Rugby Is Unlike Anything Else
Irish TV personality Gráinne Seoige tells the Lekker Rugby Pod that walking into Loftus for the 2024 Ireland test was the most intimidating rugby atmosphere she has ever experienced, and argues that Rassie Erasmus's cultural transformation of Springbok rugby is a bigger achievement than the World Cup wins.