With under a year to go until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, England head coach Steve Borthwick has named his 36-man training squad ahead of Tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand in November. The squad includes a recall for Joe Marchant and rewards Will Joseph for his strong start to the season, while uncapped players Archie Mc Parland and Kepu Tuipulotu provide fresh options at scrum-half and hooker respectively. England face Australia on 8 November, followed by Japan on 14 November and New Zealand on 21 November, with just nine competitive matches remaining before the World Cup begins.
Former England wing Chris Ashton questioned the squad selection on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, noting that it is not picked purely on form. "It is a squad to get to the World Cup," Ashton said. "Will Joseph is picked on form, but the vast majority is not. It is based on the experience and relationships Borthwick has with the players." This reflects the ongoing dilemma for England coaches in balancing form with consistency and experience.
Several regulars including Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Will Stuart, George Furbank and Ben Curry have had limited game time this season but remain key figures. Injuries are also a concern, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg ruled out and Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Fin Smith all on the treatment table. The midfield remains uncertain, with Atkinson and Henry Slade likely to start against Australia, while Marchant and Joseph compete for the number 13 jersey and a potential World Cup place.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing