Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

George Ford and Tom Curry out as Borthwick cuts England squad to 26

(Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images)

Steve Borthwick has cut his England squad from 36 to 26 players ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match away to Wales, releasing the likes of George Ford back to their clubs for Gallagher Premiership action. Tom Curry also misses out with a leg issue, a situation that has resulted in his twin brother Ben – who had been axed – getting called back into the squad.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was last Sunday when the head coach, fresh from the February 12 home win over Italy, named his 36-strong, start-of-the-week round three squad that included recalls for the fit-again Tom Curry, Ford and vice-captain Courtney Lawes.

Uncapped duo Fraser Dingwall and Cadan Murley were also named in a list that didn’t include Ollie Hassell-Collins, as the left-wing starter versus Scotland and the Italians had picked up a knee issue.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

Now, following two days of training at Pennyhill, Borthwick has trimmed his squad down to 14 forwards and 12 backs, retaining the likes of Lawes and Murley but releasing others such as Ben Earl – a used replacement last time out versus Italy – and Ben Youngs, the most capped England men’s player of all time.  

The seven pack players surplus to requirement for this weekend were back-rowers Curry, Earl and Sam Simmonds, lock David Ribbans, props Bevan Rodd and Will Stuart and hooker Tom Dunn – with Ben Curry earning his midweek inclusion at the expense of his now-injured brother. In the backs, Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Ford and Youngs all miss out. 

Related

An RFU statement read: “Steve Borthwick has retained a 26-player England squad for this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales. Tom Curry has withdrawn from the squad with a leg issue.  Ben Curry has been called up and has trained today [Tuesday] at Pennyhill Park in Bagshot.”

Regarding the availability of the fit-again Lawes, defence coach Kevin Sinfield later added: “Aside from his playing ability, Courtney gets more out of the players around him. There aren’t that many players in world rugby who have that influence across the team. He has certainly got it.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He has got a real presence – he is physical, he’s tough and he’s very, very mobile for a big man. All things being well, he should be there at the weekend.”

England squad (vs Wales, Saturday – 4:45pm)
Forwards (14):
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 97 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 11 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 74 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 64 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 96 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 76 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 7 caps)

Backs (12):
Henry Arundell (London Irish, 4 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 103 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 16 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 53 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)

ADVERTISEMENT

Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | First Match | Full Match Replay

Did the Lions loosies get away with murder? And revisiting the Springboks lift | Whistle Watch

The First Test, Visiting The Great Barrier Reef & Poetry with Pierre | Ep 6: The Ultimate Test

KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Lions Share | Episode 4

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

6 Comments
P
P8-it-Black 885 days ago

What happened to the chicken, injured or out of the picture?

f
fl 885 days ago

who?

f
fl 886 days ago

15 Steward

14 Malins

13 Slade

12 Lawrence

11 Arundell

10 Farrell

9 van Poortvliet

8 Dombrandt

7 Willis

6 Ludlam

5 Chessum

4 Itoje

3 Sinckler

2 George

1 Genge


23 Watson

22 Smith

21 Mitchell

20 Lawes

19 Isiekwe

18 Cole

17 Sinckler

16 Walker

J
Jason 885 days ago

Sinckler putting a shift in there - on and off the bench

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality Hugo Keenan: From high school 'D' team to British and Irish Lions immortality