Steve Borthwick is rapidly shaping the England squad he wants to take to the 2027 Rugby World Cup – and some huge names remain on the outside looking in.
The England boss offered another major clue this week when he confirmed his latest group of 25 enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts.
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Tom Willis, Ben Curry, Tom Roebuck, Elliot Daly and Ollie Lawrence have all lost their deals, with Alex Coles, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Jack van Poortvliet and Seb Atkinson coming into the group.
However, losing a central contract does not necessarily mean an England career is over. The World Cup squad will contain 33 players, leaving opportunities for those outside Borthwick’s core group.
Others face a considerably tougher route back.
From players effectively frozen out following conversations with Borthwick to stars unavailable because they play overseas, England could put together an impressive group from those currently outside the head coach’s plans.
Here are some of the biggest names.
Tom Willis – England career ended by a phone call
Few players have fallen out of England’s plans quite as dramatically as Tom Willis.
The powerful number eight had established himself as a major part of Borthwick’s side and was handed an enhanced RFU contract, but everything changed after he agreed to leave Saracens for Bordeaux-Bègles.
Willis personally called Borthwick shortly before an England squad announcement to tell him about his decision to move to France – a conversation which reportedly stunned the England head coach.
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The consequences were immediate.
Despite remaining eligible while completing his time with Saracens, Willis subsequently disappeared from Borthwick’s plans. His move to Bordeaux will make him unavailable under the RFU’s overseas selection policy.
Now the final link has effectively been cut.
Willis was one of the five players removed from England’s enhanced contract group this week as Borthwick continues building towards Australia.
Unless England’s eligibility rules change, the 27-year-old’s Test career appears to have been brought to a premature halt.
