We are on the cusp of a new era of England Rugby, with one last match to go in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After suffering a devastating 16-15 defeat to South Africa, England take on Argentina in the Bronze Medal match this Friday evening with several of Steve Borthwick’s men expected to make their international farewell.
A re-building process could then soon follow, with many of England’s current veteran players stepping aside to make way for the next generation. We are just two weeks away from beginning the next four-year cycle for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with plenty of promising England talents hopeful for their inclusion in the squad for Australia.
There is a long way to go before England head out ‘down under’ for the competition, however we decided to give it our best shot at predicting the squad. We surveyed the landscape for England’s most promising talents that are on the international fringes, and picked out the current stars who will return to the Rugby World Cup in four years time.
Here are our predictions for the 33-man England squad and wider training group, for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
STARTING XV
BACK THREE
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Freddie Steward looks to be England’s best out-and-out option at fullback, and the Leicester Tigers man is only 22-years-old. He will be in his prime playing years for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and is the dead-set choice to wear the number 15 jersey, having already ran-out star-making performances in France.
14. Henry Arundell (Racing 92)
Despite currently being on the books of Parisian club Racing 92 after the collapse of London Irish, the England door remains open to Henry Arundell, with heavy speculation of his return to the Premiership. Five tries in his only Rugby World Cup appearance to date, 20-year-old Arundell is a special talent that England fans are excited to see progress into an international mainstay.
11. Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
Cut down by injuries in the prime of his career, Anthony Watson was unfortunate to miss out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad after being initially named in the 33-man group. Watson sustained a calf injury in the World Cup Warm-Up defeat to Ireland, with Jonny May taking his place in the trip to France. Watson will be 33-years-old for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and if he avoids further injuries, would likely slot in along the back-three in Australia.
CENTRES
13. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)
One of the Premiership’s top midfield talents, Guy Porter looks set for an extended England run, as he already has six international caps to his name. Porter was amongst Borthwick’s wider training group for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but was cut following the first Summer Series match against Wales. With Joe Marchant heading to Paris with a move to Stade Francais, don’t be surprised to see Porter get reps in the England centres, as soon as the 2024 Six Nations.
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
The understudy to Manu Tuilagi is getting ready to step into the spotlight, as the Sale Sharks centre is approaching the end of his international career at 32-years-old. It has been a turbulent past couple of years for Lawrence, as he was left without a club following the financial collapse of Worcester Warriors. However, the midfielder is going from strength to strength, and was amongst the best England players in the 2023 Six Nations.
HALFBACKS
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
The 2027 Rugby World Cup looks primed to be Marcus Smith’s time to shine. Converted to fullback for the trip to France, with Owen Farrell and George Ford preferred as the fly-half options, however, Smith could the lead in the 10 jersey for Australia ’27. Ford and Farrell are expected to be watching on in support, following their international retirements in the coming few years. 28-year-old Smith will likely be a two-time British & Irish Lion by 2027, with the added experience of the 2025 Tour to Australia moulding him into a true leader of men.
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
Dealt a cruel blow just weeks before the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Jack van Poortvliet was side-lined by a brutal ankle injury. The Leicester Tigers man was gearing up to be Borthwick’s starting nine in France, and will now likely enter a power struggle for the jersey after the strong World Cup performances of Alex Mitchell. However, in four years time, we can see a 26-year-old JVP running out as starting scrum-half in Australia.