The England Rugby team has announced its 36-player squad for the 2026 Six Nations Championship, with a mix of experienced players and exciting newcomers. Head coach Steve Borthwick has selected a talented group, including three uncapped players, for the upcoming tournament. But here's where it gets interesting: the squad features a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, with some notable names missing out. The selection process has sparked debate, with fans and experts alike weighing in on the choices made by Borthwick.
Among the uncapped players, Exeter Chiefs number eight Greg Fisilau, 22, stands out for his impressive club form. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Bath tighthead Vilikesa Sela is included, with Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour ruled out due to injuries. Another uncapped player, Northampton Saints tighthead Trevor Davison, 33, returns after four years, having earned his first Test cap in the summer against the USA. Davison's club teammate and loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun, 25, also gets a chance, with Fin Baxter currently out injured but expected to return during the Six Nations.
The squad also includes a quartet of players named for rehabilitation purposes: fly-half Fin Smith (calf), wing Tom Roebuck (toe), centre Ollie Lawrence (knee), and back-row Ben Curry (hamstring). Saracens' 19-year-old wing Noah Caluori, who impressed during November with five tries on his Prem Rugby debut, is not included and will play for England's U20 side this Test window.
Other additions to the squad since the Autumn include Gloucester lock Arthur Clark, Sale loosehead Bevan Rodd, Northampton full-back George Furbank, Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, and Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson. However, some notable names have dropped out, such as Saracens lock Nick Isiekwe, Harlequins back-row Jack Kenningham, and Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke.
'We've picked a squad with a good balance of experience, leadership, and exciting potential,' said head coach Borthwick. 'The margins in the Six Nations are incredibly fine, so our aim is to come together quickly, prepare thoroughly, and make sure we're ready to perform.'
The 36-player squad for the 2026 Six Nations Championship is as follows: Forwards (20): Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 14 caps), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 53 caps), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 20 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 65 caps), Theo Dan (Saracens, 20 caps), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), Ben Earl (Saracens, 46 caps), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 75 caps), Jamie George (Saracens, 105 caps), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 97 caps - captain), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 7 caps), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 5 caps), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 10 caps), Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, uncapped), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 45 caps).
Backs (16): Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby, 11 caps), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps), Elliot Daly (Saracens, 74 caps), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 7 caps), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps), George Ford (Sale Sharks, 105 caps), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 22 caps), George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 14 caps), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 27 caps), Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 4 caps), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, 2 caps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 74 caps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 46 caps), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 14 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps).
