England 2025/26

[TRF_Olyy]

England’s training squad

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs
Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

In addition, as part of a development agreement with Saracens, Noah Caluori, will join the squad for training.

Rehabilitation: Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).

 

[Ddanno]

Glad to see Willis dropped. Seems to have given Ilione a shot to train at least.

Wait, where's Burry?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Burry had surgery at the start of the week - back in 3-6weeks
Would imagine, as it was on his hamstring (removing an old internal stitch), that he's on full r&r ATM so wouldn't be worth even bringing him in as one of the walking wounded players


Great to see Ilione in there

Quirke being there is mental

Only one actual fullback, so it's likely they'll continue to force Smith there

Shame no Bamber, but really looking forward to what the A side will look like this autumn

 

[West Country Wail]

I thought Slade was done but his pairing with Ikitau might just be the rejuvenation of him

 

[West Country Wail]

Please not Smith at 15.

 

[BPM]

Burry had surgery at the start of the week - back in 3-6weeks
Would imagine, as it was on his hamstring (removing an old internal stitch), that he's on full r&r ATM so wouldn't be worth even bringing him in as one of the walking wounded players


Great to see Ilione in there

Quirke being there is mental

Only one actual fullback, so it's likely they'll continue to force Smith there

Shame no Bamber, but really looking forward to what the A side will look like this autumn

Yeah - that is an odd selection call. Honestly how is he there?

OTOH, pleased for Radwan and Ilione.

Dan is very lucky to keep his place with Oghre playing well and Jibulu looking like the coming man.

 

[BRSTLDRGN]

Yeah - that is an odd selection call. Honestly how is he there?

OTOH, pleased for Radwan and Ilione.

Dan is very lucky to keep his place with Oghre playing well and Jibulu looking like the coming man.

I'd normally be a bit miffed at the continued ignoring of Bristol players who deserve higher recognition. At the moment I want to keep them away from any risk of injury outside of playing in league games.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

If Cunningham-South has to drop out because of his injury today who is probably coming in?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Knowing SB I would imagine it'll be Dombrandt if he's deemed fit enough (missed today's game with a "minor injury" - not sure how minor)
If not then probably Chick

 

[Greeno]

If Cunningham-South has to drop out because of his injury today who is probably coming in?

Ted Hill

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ted Hill

Injured

 

[Scotty]

Anyone got the squad by position?

Still gutted about Willis but he's made his choice. Is there any clause to end his contract? It's odd as he is our best 8 but chosen to leave next season. So he can't play but yet we're still paying him yet not selecting him. I get it it's just a bad situation all round

 

[Rinkadink]

I'd normally be a bit miffed at the continued ignoring of Bristol players who deserve higher recognition. At the moment I want to keep them away from any risk of injury outside of playing in league games.

Yes but also it's pretty poor. Batley's omission in particular.

 

[Scotty]

Burry had surgery at the start of the week - back in 3-6weeks
Would imagine, as it was on his hamstring (removing an old internal stitch), that he's on full r&r ATM so wouldn't be worth even bringing him in as one of the walking wounded players


Great to see Ilione in there

Quirke being there is mental

Only one actual fullback, so it's likely they'll continue to force Smith there

Shame no Bamber, but really looking forward to what the A side will look like this autumn

Ilione....can't say I've watched him much this season but isn't he just out of the u20s? Is he ready?

Also 6 wingers? Guess it's just a training squad, how many drop out?
IFW, Radwan, Murley and Roebuck are wingers
Freeman Wing/13
Arundell Wing/15(international 15? Maybe not without gametime their)

There's also over the next few years PBB, Caluori(who knows), Hendy? All got talent in their own way. All need alot of proving but our Wing stocks are strong.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wouldn't surprise me if Freeman is in the 15 hierarchy rather than 13, atm

Ilione....can't say I've watched him much this season but isn't he just out of the u20s? Is he ready?

Honestly he's mega, great in the lineout, great at the breakdown, powerful carrier

 

[Scotty]

Wouldn't surprise me if Freeman is in the 15 hierarchy rather than 13, atm

Used to think that was his best position tbh. Good in the air, has a good eye for running the right line to get on the ball and good in defence. I'd have his all round game over Steward tbh but others he needs gametime there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Anyone got the squad by position?

Loosehead: Baxter, Genge, Rodd
Hooker: Cowan-Dickie, Dan, George
Tighthead: Heyes, Opoku-Fordjour, Stuart
Secondrow: Chessum, Coles, Isiekwe, Itoje
Backrow: Cunningham-South, Earl, Ilione, Pepper, Pollock, Underhill (an 8 and 5 opensides lol - though most the opensides also play other positions)
Scrumhalf: Mitchell, Quirke, Spencer
Flyhalf: Ford, Smith, Smith
Centre: Dingwall, Lawrence, Ojomoh, Slade
Wing: Arundell, Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Murley, Radwan, Roebuck
Fullback: Steward

Plenty of players covering multiple positions, though

Opoku-Fordjour: tighthead and loosehead
All locks: Lock and blindside
Cunningham-South: Lock and 8
Earl, Ilione, Pollock: Openside and 8
Marcus Smith: 10 and 15 (gross)
Arundell: Wing and Fullback
Freeman: Wing, centre and fullback

(do we count Ojomoh as flyhalf cover? he was bloody good there haha - Slade also covers flyhalf but I'm thinking more in terms of realistic positions they could play for England, I think if we got to a point where Slade was in line to start at 10 they'd call in Farrell, whereas all the others I think could realistically feature)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Used to think that was his best position tbh. Good in the air, has a good eye for running the right line to get on the ball and good in defence. I'd have his all round game over Steward tbh but others he needs gametime there.

Started for Saints there this round and presumably is gonna start there until Hendy or Furbank are back (unsure on timeframes for them),

 

[NickBD]

Is Carpenter out for a long time? I know he missed Sarries game with an ankle injury. He was looking pretty good at the start.

 

[BPM]

I'm a touch surprised Malins didn't make the cut at 15 TBH. I was half expecting to see him there.

He's started the season well and if we want a second playmaker, he's probably the closest to Furbank in style.

As of right now, I’d be quite keen to see Freeman there. We’re stacked on the wing and at least he has been playing there for Saints,