Steve Borthwick has unveiled his England squad for the 2026 Six Nations, and it has already sparked debate. The selection features three uncapped players, signalling a nod to the future, while several high-profile, in-form stars have been left out.
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From surprise omissions to bold new calls, these are the five major talking points to emerge from the announcement ahead of the tournament opener in February, including quotes from Borthwick.
1 No Owen Farrell
The most eye-catching absentee from the squad is Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell. His summer return from Racing 92 made him eligible once again for England selection, but he has nonetheless been left out. As a result, the 34-year-old’s international future is uncertain, with the possibility that his Test career has come to an end. Explaining the decision, head coach Steve Borthwick pointed to the strength and depth available at fly-half as the decisive factor.
“I think very positively about Owen Farrell. We are pleased with what we have with George Ford and Marcus Smith, and then with George Furbank’s ability to cover 10, Henry Slade’s ability to cover 10. Max Ojomoh started the season at 10 for Bath. I am really confident we have that strength.
“I don’t see Fin Smith’s injury being a long one. I am hopeful that Fin will be available for the Wales Test. That’s tight, we need everything to go right. But I don’t see him being unavailable for a long time.”
2 Plenty of forced changes in the front row
Injuries to Will Stuart, Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Fin Baxter have created space for three new props to be included in the squad, with all three absentees previously viewed as near certainties for selection.
The most eye-catching addition is Bath’s young tighthead Vilikesa Sela, who has progressed through the pathway system to earn his first senior call-up, alongside the more seasoned Trevor Davison, who brings experience with three international caps at the age of 33.
While injuries are never ideal, Borthwick has emphasised that Sela and Davison’s inclusions have been anticipated for some time.
“We’ve got a blend of strengths there, a blend of experience. You’ve got Joe Heyes in his mid-20s, who’s really developed over this last period. Not last autumn, the autumn before he was playing for the A team against Australia at the Stoop and then he’s progressed. Last summer was so important for Joe Heyes, his performance out in Argentina.
“And then you’ve got Trevor who, whilst he hasn’t won the England shirt a lot, is a tremendously experienced player. He can play both sides of the scrum, been around the Premiership a long time, a tough, tough prop.”
Sela is the latest player to come through the England pathway, which has produced plenty of top players in recent times. Borthwick gave the system in place and the coaching staff plenty of praise after the Bath player’s inclusion.
“Three years ago when I came back in to rejoin the team, clearly the front row we discussed at length, myself and Conor O’Shea and Tom Harrison, about what we needed to do and where the front rows are.
“Now Billy Sela, three years ago when I came in, I had been informed by Conor and Mark Mapletoft, in terms of discussing the depth chart, about Billy Sela and what an incredibly talented rugby player we have coming through the system. From a talent ID, it shows the joined up nature, we have been aware of Billy coming through.”
3 Confident Borthwick
England enjoyed a positive, if ultimately trophyless, 2025, highlighted by an 11-match winning streak. Their only defeat of the year came in the opening Six Nations fixture against Ireland, a loss that ultimately proved decisive in the title race. The autumn campaign was even more encouraging, as England beat the All Blacks at Allianz Stadium for the first time since 2012 and followed it up with a gritty victory over a formidable Argentina side.
With momentum playing a crucial role, and a final-day trip to Paris to face France, Borthwick remains confident his side will be firmly in contention going into the closing round, urging supporters to get fully behind the team.
“I’ve said this many times, but I think this team has the potential to be an outstanding team. We have players in there with huge amounts of talent, and whilst we’re still reasonably low on experience at Test level, as they get used to Test rugby their growth is going to be enormous. I’m really pleased at how the players are embracing how we want to play, and taking the game on. I want them to attack this tournament, and I talked earlier on about them coming in with a mindset to play brave, and attack this tournament.
“We also know the last seven Six Nations Championships have gone down to the last round of fixtures and we talked about that as a team, on the 14th of March in Paris, we want to be in a position in that game, entering that game, we want to be in a position where we can achieve what we’re all aiming to achieve. That’s what we want.
“We want England fans flooding across the Channel to Paris to come and watch the team in a massive encounter on the final round with the opportunity to achieve what we want. We also know that the only way you get there is by ensuring each of you take each step one at a time and get our preparation right for the start of the tournament.”
4 No lack of centres
Five centres, six if you include Tommy Freeman, have been named in the squad, a tally that exceeds what many expected Borthwick to select. While the number raised eyebrows initially, Borthwick emphasised the versatility of those chosen, stressing that each can contribute in roles beyond the 12 and 13 shirts.
“Two of those centres also give 10 cover and there will be times when we want them to run at 10. That has been a consideration. As Tom Roebuck is still in rehab and it is George Furbank’s first time back in the squad there is going to be a little bit of rotation around the outside backs, we are going to need to do that.
“I like players with positional versatility, it is a huge strength to have those players, to have the likes of Elliot Daly and Henry Slade who can cover multiple positions and are so experienced. Last summer in Argentina, the first Test, Sladey was covering 10 because we had worked and spent a load of time with Tom Roebuck covering 15 and 13, Cadan Murley covering 13. Those are always bits we will be working on.”
5 Experienced squad
Although three uncapped players have been selected, the bulk of the squad is well accustomed to this environment, forming an experienced group that has been through a great deal together, including many who played key roles in the 2020 triumph. Jamie George is among them, and the hooker recently confirmed he will retire from rugby in 2027 to embark on a new career in the business world.
“In the room a couple of weeks ago, I looked up how many Six Nations caps were in that room, and I think we had over 400 Six Nations caps. People who’ve experienced this tournament, going to these different stadia and playing against these teams. That experience is super important.
“We have an outstanding group of senior players within the squad, and those guys are vital in terms of the development of this team, and Jamie in particular. I think Jamie’s been, and continues to be, a superb player for England, and he still has plenty in him. He might have announced it (his retirement), but he still has plenty of brilliant rugby in him, I’m sure of that.
“Even the manner with which he’s gone about this announcement, just calm, assured, composed and really clear with what he wants, that’s the way he is around the squad and the way he plays. He’s a tremendous player, and we’re fortunate he’s with us.”
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