Maro Itoje makes a notable return to the England squad as coach Steve Borthwick gears up for the upcoming Nations Championship with a blend of experienced figures and promising new talents in his 36-man lineup.
The team convened at Pennyhill Park on September 6 for a three-day training stint at England’s Performance Centre, synthesizing strategies and conditioning before they face top-tier competition starting in November. Their preparation at this iconic training ground is crucial as they face the Wallabies at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, followed by games against Japan and New Zealand.
Among the forwards, the return of Fin Baxter is particularly significant given his 10-month hiatus due to a foot injury. He is joined by Will Stuart, another key player making a return post-injury. Notably, Ellis Genge remains with Bristol Bears focusing on regaining fitness after an extended break.
In the hooking roles, the talents of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Theo Dan, and the promising Kepu Tuipulotu are set to shine. The second row welcomes back Maro Itoje, alongside younger players such as Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, and George Martin, hinting at a blend of experience and fresh energy.
The back row features the return of Chandler Cunningham-South and includes the remarkable Greg Fisilau from Exeter Chiefs. The group is rounded out by Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, and Sam Underhill, forming a formidable unit.
With the absence of Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer due to ongoing rehabilitation, the scrum-half positions see new opportunities for Harry Randall, Jack van Poortvliet, and Archie McParland to step up. The experienced trio of fly-halves—George Ford, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith—are also expected to play pivotal roles.
In the midfield, Seb Atkinson, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, and Henry Slade are key figures, while the wings and fullback positions are buoyed by dynamic players like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, Cadan Murley, and the versatile Elliot Daly. At fullback, George Furbank and Freddie Steward are set to compete for starting roles.
The squad announcement did not include Courtney Lawes or Joe Marchant, with Borthwick expressing a desire to see more from them at club level before reconsidering their inclusion:
"We’re keen to see Courtney and Joe excel in the Prem and demonstrate that they're ready to step back into the international arena."
The full list of forwards and backs called up for the training includes noteworthy names and several new faces eager to make their mark on the international stage. With a balanced mix of veterans and newcomers, England’s squad looks robust ahead of a challenging set of fixtures.
The forwards are: 1. Fin Baxter 2. Arthur Clark 3. Alex Coles 4. Luke Cowan-Dickie 5. Chandler Cunningham-South 6. Tom Curry 7. Theo Dan 8. Ben Earl 9. Greg Fisilau 10. Joe Heyes 11. Maro Itoje 12. Emmanuel Iyogun 13. George Kloska 14. George Martin 15. Asher Opoku-Fordjour 16. Guy Pepper 17. Henry Pollock 18. Will Stuart 19. Kepueli Tuipulotu 20. Sam Underhill
The backs include: 1. Seb Atkinson 2. Elliot Daly 3. Tobias Elliott 4. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 5. George Ford 6. Tommy Freeman 7. George Furbank 8. Benhard Janse van Rensburg 9. Archie McParland 10. Cadan Murley 11. Harry Randall 12. Henry Slade 13. Fin Smith 14. Marcus Smith 15. Freddie Steward 16. Jack van Poortvliet
This selection reflects a strategic blend of healing and honing, with Borthwick's choices poised to impact the international rugby scene significantly in the upcoming Nations Championship.
