What does Steve Borthwick’s training squad mean for English rugby?

England head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 33-man training squad ahead of their tour to Japan and New Zealand.

The side, which does not include players from Premiership finalists Bath or Northampton Saints, has gathered for a four-day training camp at Pennyhill Park this week.

Among the selected are eight uncapped players, as well as nine players with fewer than ten England appearances, suggesting a post-World Cup changing of the guard for Borthwick’s men.

This squad highlights the positions that England are looking to strengthen most as they slowly build into the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle.

Prop

Consigning Joe Marler to the Harlequins bench for much of the past season, loose-head prop Fin Baxter will be looking to make his England debut, although he will face stiff competition from Bevan Rodd and Beno Obano, who were selected for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and 2024 Six Nations respectively.

On the other side of the scrum, tight-head Joe Heyes will be aiming to usurp Leicester team-mate Dan Cole, although will be unlikely to start ahead of Bath’s Will Stuart who earned Borthwick’s favour during the Six Nations.

Back row

Seemingly undecided on his favoured combination, Borthwick has named nine back row players in his squad, with Sam Underhill also an option post-Premiership final.

Although deployed most recently for England as a number eight, Six Nations Player of the Championship nominee Ben Earl is arguably a more natural flanker.

With Alex Dombrandt’s incredible Harlequins form Chandler Cunningham-South’s meteoric rise, and Tom Curry’s long-awaited return from injury, it is anybody’s guess as to who starts where, just that Ben Earl will be in there somewhere.

Earning Player of the Match status on his England debut, Ethan Roots will also be looking to clamp down the blindside six shirt for his own, Ben Curry joins his twin brother Tom, while 20-year-old Greg Fisilau will be hoping to make an impression.

Scrum-half

Fighting for a spot on the plane to Japan are Raffi Quirke, Harry Randall, and Jack van Poortvliet

They will surely be and joined by either or both Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer following the Premiership final, having both emerged as front runners following Ben Youngs and Danny Care’s international retirements.

Each nine selected has, at one point, been seen as England’s future, yet injuries have kept the trio away from earning any more than a handful of caps, van Poortvliet having the most with 14.

As only three scrum-halves likely to make the final squad, this training camp will be crucial for England’s half-back stability going forward.

Fullback

Losing his position to Northampton’s George Furbank during the Six Nations, Freddie Steward will look to make the 15 shirt his own again.

He has been named alongside two other fullbacks in Max Malins and Joe Carpenter, as well as Marcus Smith, who was deployed at fullback during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Conventional thinking would suggest that Steward and Furbank will retain their places and be set to tour, however Malins’ refound form and ability to play wing – and fly-half in an emergency – could be enough for him to be given another shot with England.

There is room in the squad for a third fullback, with only two out-and-out wings named in the squad in Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and the uncapped Tom Roebuck, and Tommy Freeman likely to be named after the Premiership final, Malins’ versatility may well be his saving grace.

England’s other option at fullback is the uncapped Joe Carpenter, who is coming off a breakthrough season at Sale Sharks.

This camp will be good experience for Carpenter, though he will have to truly impress if he is to earn a cap ahead of Furbank, Steward, or Malins.

Final thoughts

Overall, this seems to be a strong and ambitious squad. Stalwarts Marler, Cole, Jamie George, and Henry Slade will be looked to as guiding lights for this young squad.

Besides the France-bound Owen Farrell, perhaps the only notable omissions are the injured duo of Ellis Genge and Ollie Chessum, while Elliot Daly misses out despite a solid season for Saracens.

Elsewhere, fly-half Charlie Atkinson is included, but like Carpenter, will be unlikely to tour ahead of George Ford, Marcus Smith, and Northampton’s ever-impressive Fin Smith.

This is not a final squad but does show the intent of Borthwick as his side attempts to rebuild following another lacklustre Six Nations campaign for English rugby.

Full Squad

Forwards

Fin Baxter (Harlequins) – uncapped

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) – 112 caps

Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins) – 4

Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) – 5

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) – 50

Theo Dan (Saracens) – 12

Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins) – 17

Ben Earl (Saracens) – 30

Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs) – uncapped

Jamie George (Saracens) – 90

Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) – 7

Nick Isiekwe (Saracens) – 11

Maro Itoje (Saracens) – 81

Joe Marler (Harlequins) – 92

George Martin (Leicester Tigers) – 12

Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears) – uncapped

Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks) – 5

Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs) – 4

Rusi Tuima (Exeter Chiefs) – uncapped

Tom Willis (Saracens) – 1

Backs

Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby) – uncapped

Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks) – uncapped

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs) – 3

George Ford (Sale Sharks) – 96

Max Malins (Bristol Bears) – 22

Luke Northmore (Harlequins) – uncapped

Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks) – 2

Harry Randall (Bristol Bears) – 6

Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) – uncapped

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) – 62  

Marcus Smith (Harlequins) – 32

Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) – 33

Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers) – 14