With under a year remaining until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, the countdown has begun with just nine competitive matches left for the home nations. England head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-man training squad ahead of upcoming autumn tests, signaling his strategic approach as the inaugural Nations Championship resumes in November.
Squad Selection and Experience
England will face Australia on 8 November, followed by matches against Japan on 14 November and New Zealand on 21 November. The squad features recalls for center Joe Marchant and fellow center Will Joseph, who has impressed with Gloucester at the start of the season. Uncapped scrum-half Archie McParland and uncapped hooker Kepu Tuipulotu are also included.
However, the group largely relies on tried-and-tested personnel rather than immediate club form. Speaking on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, former England wing Chris Ashton stated that the selection is geared toward building a World Cup squad rather than rewarding current form, noting that Borthwick relies heavily on existing experience and player relationships.
Borthwick faces the perennial dilemma of balancing form across ten domestic clubs with selection consistency. Several regulars such as Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Will Stuart, George Furbank, and Ben Curry have had limited minutes or form this season, yet retain their places due to their Test match experience. Ashton added that Borthwick feels pressure to secure results, making major changes difficult at this stage.
Injuries and Midfield Uncertainty
The addition of newcomers McParland and Tuipulotu brings fresh energy, though questions remain over how much playing time they will receive behind established options like Jack van Poortvliet, Alex Mitchell, George, and Cowan-Dickie. Pundit Ugo Monye noted that while Tuipulotu is exceptionally talented, players such as Sale’s Nathan Jibulu, Northampton’s George Hendy, and Bristol back-rower Fitz Harding might feel unlucky to miss out based on their recent performances.
Meanwhile, injuries continue to impact selection plans. Benhard Janse van Rensburg is sidelined, while incumbent number 12 Seb Atkinson and Exeter back Immanuel Feyi-Waboso are also in rehabilitation. Fly-half Fin Smith is sitting out training this week with a calf niggle, prompting a call-up for Charlie Atkinson, though Smith’s injury is not considered serious.
While the forward pack appears settled with players like Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, and Ben Earl expected to feature if fit, the backline remains uncertain, particularly in the midfield. Ashton admitted difficulty in predicting the midfield combinations, while Monye highlighted a shoot-out between Marchant and Joseph for the number 13 shirt and potential World Cup selection.
The squad will remain in camp until Tuesday evening before returning to their clubs for one final round of league fixtures, re-joining the national setup seven days before the Australia clash. Following an underwhelming 2026 campaign that yielded just three wins from eight matches, England enter November needing a strong performance to build momentum toward the World Cup.
