"Blacklisted" - The five biggest omissions from England's summer squad

The selection includes several exciting young talents stepping up, but also some notable absentees. A number of established and in-form players have been left out, raising eyebrows across the game.

Here are five of the biggest omissions from Borthwick’s latest England plans.

Electric pace has not been enough to earn Henry Arundell a place in the squad, likely due in large part to a disappointing Six Nations campaign.

That comes despite an impressive season for Bath, with 22 tries across club and international rugby.

While he crossed the line regularly, his ill-discipline against Scotland proved costly and contributed to England’s decline in that match.

He also struggled to make an impact against Ireland and at times appeared too reliant on his speed, although he remains a young player with plenty of time to improve.

Still only 23, Arundell has huge potential and could easily return to the England setup in the future. For now, though, Steve Borthwick has opted for Adam Radwan and Noah Caluori instead.

Will Wand is another player who could easily have made the squad on form alone. His omission feels surprising given that England have selected only one specialist outside centre.

Henry Slade is the only natural number 13 included, although Tommy Freeman can also operate there and has clearly been viewed as an option by Borthwick.

Even so, Wand’s performances this season suggest this may have been a missed opportunity.

The Leicester Tigers back was named Gallagher Player of the Month in March, beating nominees including Archie McParland, who did make the squad.

Strong defensively and dangerous in attack, Wand has developed into a very complete player and has consistently stood out for Leicester this season.

Max Ojomoh is another notable omission, particularly with Benhard Janse van Rensburg included.

At just 25 years old, Ojomoh has impressed in his limited England appearances, making his continued absence difficult to understand.

Against Argentina, he scored England’s opening try after reacting quickest to a loose ball before sprinting clear.

He then set up the second with a perfectly weighted kick for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and won Player of the Match.

He also played a major role in the third try, producing an excellent improvised offload while falling to the ground.

The Bath centre is highly regarded for his creativity, sharp footwork, and physicality, with the versatility to operate effectively at both inside and outside centre.

Just days after scoring four tries and providing an assist for Northampton Saints against Bristol Bears, George Hendy’s omission feels surprising, although the depth of competition across the back three may explain the decision.

Primarily a fullback but equally comfortable on the wing, Hendy has scored 15 tries this season and delivered consistently impressive all-round performances for the Premiership leaders.

With so many Saints players already involved in the England setup, his inclusion would likely have been a smooth fit.

Ollie Lawrence is perhaps the most surprising omission among the Bath contingent. Injuries have limited his appearances this season, but when fully fit he remains one of the best centres in the country.

He offers genuine threat at outside centre and would provide valuable depth behind Henry Slade, combining technical quality with physical power in midfield.

With 37 England caps already to his name, Lawrence also brings considerable experience. Even if he was overlooked for this alignment squad, he still appears likely to feature during the summer fixtures.