England head coach Steve Borthwick has unveiled his fresh-faced squad for the impending 2025 Autumn Nations Series, sparking intrigue and debate with his selections. Among the 36 players, newcomers Noah Caluori and Jack Kenningham stand out, hinting at England's strategic evolution. The squad's announcement comes just ahead of a challenging opener against Australia, promising a thrilling series for rugby enthusiasts.
Caluori, recently roped into England's setup from Saracens, earned his spot following an impressive stint at a three-day training camp at Pennyhill Park. His inclusion as one of the 17 backs alongside seasoned players like Henry Arundell and Tommy Freeman, who doubles as a centre, indicates England's intent to blend youth with experience. The backline also features powerhouse names such as George Ford, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith in the fly-half roles, while Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, and Raffi Quirke are set to command the scrum-half positions.
The forward pack isn't short of talent either, with Tom Curry and the uncapped Kenningham ready to bring vigor to the flanks. However, the absence of Leicester Tigers' Emeka Ilione due to a shoulder injury leaves a notable gap in the lineup.
"Selecting this squad is an exciting step in our preparations for the Quilter Nations Series, and we look forward to working with the players again in the coming weeks,"
Borthwick remarked, emphasizing the strategic groundwork laid out for the high-octane clashes against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina.
Despite the buzz around the new inclusions, the omission of Leicester Tigers' star Emeka Ilione, sidelined by injury, and the unavailable Alex Dombrandt has stirred some controversy. Yet, the depth of the squad suggests England is well-prepared to tackle the challenges posed by some of the world's top rugby nations.
The series kicks off with a highly anticipated match against Australia at Allianz Stadium, a game that Borthwick describes as a "great test against a team that has been training and playing together for some time and is one of the in-form teams in the world."
England Squad - Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Jack Kenningham, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill. Backs: Henry Arundell, Noah Caluori, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Raffi Quirke, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward.
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England head coach Steve Borthwick has unveiled his fresh-faced squad for the impending 2025 Autumn Nations Series, sparking intrigue and debate with his selections. Among the 36 players, newcomers Noah Caluori and Jack Kenningham stand out, hinting at England's strategic evolution. The squad's announcement comes just ahead of a challenging opener against Australia, promising a thrilling series for rugby enthusiasts.
Caluori, recently roped into England's setup from Saracens, earned his spot following an impressive stint at a three-day training camp at Pennyhill Park. His inclusion as one of the 17 backs alongside seasoned players like Henry Arundell and Tommy Freeman, who doubles as a centre, indicates England's intent to blend youth with experience. The backline also features powerhouse names such as George Ford, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith in the fly-half roles, while Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, and Raffi Quirke are set to command the scrum-half positions.
The forward pack isn't short of talent either, with Tom Curry and the uncapped Kenningham ready to bring vigor to the flanks. However, the absence of Leicester Tigers' Emeka Ilione due to a shoulder injury leaves a notable gap in the lineup.
"Selecting this squad is an exciting step in our preparations for the Quilter Nations Series, and we look forward to working with the players again in the coming weeks,"
Borthwick remarked, emphasizing the strategic groundwork laid out for the high-octane clashes against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina.Despite the buzz around the new inclusions, the omission of Leicester Tigers' star Emeka Ilione, sidelined by injury, and the unavailable Alex Dombrandt has stirred some controversy. Yet, the depth of the squad suggests England is well-prepared to tackle the challenges posed by some of the world's top rugby nations.
The series kicks off with a highly anticipated match against Australia at Allianz Stadium, a game that Borthwick describes as a "great test against a team that has been training and playing together for some time and is one of the in-form teams in the world."
England Squad - Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Jack Kenningham, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill. Backs: Henry Arundell, Noah Caluori, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Raffi Quirke, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward.