"Borthwick fallout" - Five England players set to lose their central contracts

The hybrid deals for the 2025/26 season provide around £160,000 annually and give Steve Borthwick greater control over medical and performance decisions.

However, with contracts reviewed each year and England enduring a disappointing Six Nations, several players currently at risk of losing their EPS status.

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The most obvious player set to lose his EPS contract is Tom Willis. After deciding to move abroad and return to Bordeaux, he ruled himself out of England selection under the RFU’s policy on overseas-based players.

Steve Borthwick has made it clear that England will focus on players involved in the 2027 World Cup cycle, confirming Willis is not part of those plans.

Although he is currently on a central contract, he won't retain it when the next round of renewals arrives.

Elliot Daly’s performance against Italy suggested he may no longer be operating at the highest international level. While he has been a valuable utility player and a loyal servant to England, his time in the white shirt appears to be nearing its end, particularly with him now aged 33.

Recalled for the match in Rome, he struggled to make an impact. EPS contracts are intended for the country’s top performers, and Daly no longer seems to fit that category.

There are some advantages to keeping George Martin on an EPS contract, particularly in terms of coordinating injury management between club and country. However, his prolonged spell on the sidelines raises questions about whether it represents good value.

The lock, who is set to join Saracens from Leicester Tigers, still has clear potential, but he may need to re-establish himself on the field before being awarded another EPS contract.

Ben Curry may also fall out of contention, partly due to injury and partly because of the exceptional depth in England’s back row.

He has yet to secure a consistent place in the national side, which makes it difficult to justify his inclusion in the EPS group. With Curry now ruled out for the rest of the season, other players will have opportunities to move ahead of him in the selection hierarchy.

This year’s Six Nations suggested that Luke Cowan-Dickie may no longer be a central part of England’s long-term plans.

With several promising Prem hookers pushing for opportunities including Gabriel Oghre, Jamie Blamire and Kepu Tuipulotu, England could look to invest elsewhere.

His early substitution against Ireland felt symbolic of a changing of the guard, and losing his EPS contract might even provide the motivation for a resurgence.