My England squad for the Nations Championship

Published on 17 May 2026 at 20:40

Loosehead Prop

My Selections: Fin Baxter, Ellis Genge, Manny Iyogun

Ellis Genge is the clear number one and Fin Baxter, who missed the Six Nations with injury, has become the obvious second choice. The real competition comes behind them where Bevan Rodd has been the first choice. However, he is injured so the competition is between Iyogun and Obano. They are similar athletes but Iyogun is younger and in good form which gives him the advantage.

Next up: Beno Obano

Injured: Bevan Rodd

Hooker

My Selections: Jamie Blamire, Jamie George, Nathan Jibulu

This is perhaps the most unpredictable position to pick. Jamie George is the obvious choice, particularly with Cowan-Dickie out. Theo Dan has consistently been the third option but Borthwick has never shown much trust in him. He has never nailed down a spot in the England team so why not look at other options? Blamire has been on the periphery of the squad for a while and his form at Leicester warrants a proper opportunity. Nathan Jibulu is a bit of a wildcard option but his line-out throwing has improved and his open-play impact is something that isn't replicated by anyone other than Cowan-Dickie. Langdon would probably be in this squad but he is also out injured currently.

Next up: Kepu Tuipulotu

Injured: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Curtis Langdon

Tighthead Prop

My Selections: Afo Fasogbon, Joe Heyes, Asher Opoku-Fordjour

There is more injury woe for England at tighthead prop with Will Stuart out injured. Joe Heyes has stepped up well in his absence and Opoku-Fordjour is now available again to take a spot on the bench. Once again, the third-choice spot is up for grabs. Trevor Davison offers experience whilst Sela and Fasogbon are superb physical specimens who both bring something a bit different to the team. I think Fasogbon has done enough, over a long enough period of time, to earn a call-up to the team.

Next up: Trevor Davison, Billy Sela

Injured: Will Stuart

Lock

My Selections: Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Maro Itoje(C), George Martin

This group is now at full strength after the return of George Martin. Itoje and Chessum are automatic starters whilst Coles has made the most of his opportunities to secure his spot in the squad. These players can all start and we are likely to see all of them in a 23-man match-day squad.

Next up: Arthur Clark

Injured: N/A

Back Row

My Selections: Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Sam Underhill

The blindside options are Cunningham-South and Hill who both bring size to an otherwise small back-row group. Guy Pepper has played well in that position for England and makes my squad in spite of some average form for Bath. Underhill, Pollock, and Earl are stalwarts of this team and are all likely to be in the 23-man match-day squads. Greg Fisilau is the outsider in the group but his relentlessly impressive form for Exeter earns him a spot. His ball-carrying prowess is also something that this England team needs now that Tom Willis is no longer an option. I've opted to back Alex Sanderson's plea for Tom Curry to be rested this summer in order to prolong his career and keep him fresh for the World Cup next year.

Next up: Jack Kenningham

Injured: Ben Curry, Tom Curry (rested)

Scrum-half

My Selections: Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet

This was a tough group to select. Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer are clearly the top two scrum-halves in England but the conversation behind them is fascinating. Jack van Poortvliet and Harry Randall have both had caps for Borthwick before but Lucas Friday and Archie McParland are both making strong cases to be included. I've gone for Jack van Poortvliet as a result of his form for Leicester and his previous showings for England.

Next up: Archie McParland

Fly-half

My Selections: George Ford, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith

This is an easy group to pick for the squad; the real problems come when picking the starting team and that's a problem for another day. Charlie Atkinson earned a cap last summer and has been excellent for Gloucester recently which gives England some good depth behind the top 3.

Next up: Charlie Atkinson

Centre

My Selections: Seb Atkinson, Joe Marchant, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade

I don't expect Borthwick to pick this quartet but I think he should. Joe Marchant has been starring for Stade Francais in the Top 14 and has signed for Sale next season. His explosiveness could bring a new dimension to England's attack. Henry Slade has been consistently good for Exeter and is a real asset when paired with a physical inside centre such as Seb Atkinson. The Gloucester man formed an impressive duo with Slade last summer and deserves a continued run in the team to make the position his own. Max Ojomoh starred against Argentina last autumn but hasn't been backed by Borthwick since; surely he now deserves another chance for his country.

Leaving out Dingwall and Lawrence was tricky but neither did enough during the Six Nations to retain their place. Nor have they been sufficiently impressive in the Prem to hold off the other contenders. Lawrence doesn't seem to be as explosive as he was pre-injury so hopefully a summer off will allow him to go into next year back to his physical peak.

Next up: Fraser Dingwall, Ollie Lawrence

Back 3

My Selections: Henry Arundell, Paul Brown-Bampoe, Noah Caluori, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Freddie Steward

Freeman and Feyi-Waboso should be the starting duo on the wings but there are question marks everywhere else. Arundell had a poor Six Nations but has been good enough for Bath to earn more chances. Caluori and Brown-Bampoe are both special athletes who could give England an X-factor that the teams lacks currently. At fullback, Furbank and Steward should both be in the squad, leaving Borthwick to choose between them.

Next up: Cadan Murley, Joe Carpenter

Injured: N/A

SQUAD (37 players)

Loosehead Prop: Fin Baxter, Ellis Genge, Manny Iyogun

Hooker: Jamie Blamire, Jamie George, Nathan Jibulu

Tighthead Prop: Afo Fasogbon, Joe Heyes, Asher Opoku-Fordjour

Lock: Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Maro Itoje(C), George Martin

Back Row: Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Sam Underhill

Scrum-half: Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet

Fly-half: George Ford, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith

Centre: Seb Atkinson, Joe Marchant, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade

Back 3: Henry Arundell, Paul Brown-Bampoe, Noah Caluori, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Freddie Steward

Starting team to play South Africa from this squad

Starting XV

1.Ellis Genge 2.Jamie George 3.Joe Heyes 4.Maro Itoje(C) 5.Alex Coles

6.Ollie Chessum 7.Sam Underhill 8.Ben Earl 9.Alex Mitchell 10.Fin Smith

11.Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 12.Seb Atkinson 13.Henry Slade 14.Tommy Freeman 15.Freddie Steward