Courtney Lawes returns to the England squad, Freddie Steward snubbed

Friday, 14 August 2026 at 14:22

byCharlie Elliott

England announced the 25 players who will receive Enhanced Player Squad (EPS) contracts earlier this week, providing a strong indication of the players Steve Borthwick trusts heading into the new season.

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With the 2027 Rugby World Cup now just over a year away, the contracts also offer an insight into who could make up the core of England's 33-player squad heading to Australia.

With that in mind, here is our prediction for England's full 33-player World Cup squad, including two returning stars who will once again be eligible for selection after spells in France.

Prop: Fin Baxter, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Will Stuart, Emmanuel Iyogun

The RFU have handed central contracts to five props, meaning that unless one suffers an injury or experiences a major dip in form during the coming season, there should only be one place available from outside that group.

There is also some debate over whether that final spot should go to a loosehead or tighthead, particularly with new contract recipient Opoku-Fordjour capable of playing on both sides. We see tighthead as his stronger position, which has led us towards selecting another loosehead as the sixth prop.

The final decision was between Bevan Rodd and Emmanuel Iyogun. Iyogun enjoyed the stronger campaign last season, while Rodd spent much of the year sidelined with a shoulder injury. The Northampton Saints prop also appears to be developing at an impressive rate.

Both are strong candidates, but Rodd's injury works against him. Even so, don't be surprised if he finds himself on the plane to Australia.

Hooker: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Kepu Tuipulotu

This is another position where there appears to be just one place up for grabs.

Cowan-Dickie and George are set to play at their final World Cups, with George's retirement from international rugby already confirmed. Between them, they bring a huge amount of experience to England's front row.

Beyond the pair, however, there are concerns about the future of the position once they move on. Theo Dan has been given opportunities, but has yet to establish himself as an international starter.

Tuipulotu, meanwhile, has impressed at youth level for England and during his time with Bath. He possesses plenty of athleticism and mobility for a hooker.

At just 20 years old, a strong season could be enough to earn him a place on the plane.

Second row: Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Courtney Lawes

Assuming England select five locks, this is another position where there appears to be only one place available.

Chessum, Coles, Itoje and Martin have all been rewarded with central contracts and look likely to make the squad, provided they remain fit.

Martin is arguably the biggest injury concern. He spent more than a year on the sidelines before returning towards the end of last season, although he now appears to have made a full recovery.

Arthur Clark has earned several England call-ups and looks like a promising option, but the experience and pedigree of Lawes could ultimately prove decisive following his return to England with Sale Sharks.

Now 37, Lawes can still provide huge physicality, but his leadership and experience at the highest level could be just as valuable to the wider squad.

Back row: Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Sam Underhill

A 33-player squad means some outstanding talent is inevitably going to miss out, particularly in the back row.

Four players have expectedly been handed contracts, with Curry, Earl, Pepper and Pollock all in strong form and giving little reason to suggest they won't be heading to Australia.

England also have several second-row options capable of moving into the blindside role, meaning five specialist back-rowers should provide enough depth.

The final spot goes to Test match specialist Underhill, whose tackling remains one of his biggest strengths.

Overlooked by Borthwick for a central contract, the Bath flanker will be determined to force his way back into the England picture and could yet earn a place in the World Cup squad.

Scrum-half: Alex Mitchell, Jack van Poortvliet, Archie McParland

Mitchell and Van Poortvliet are the two EPS contract holders, with Van Poortvliet's inclusion seemingly providing a clear indication of the current scrum-half hierarchy after he was selected ahead of Ben Spencer.

If Spencer were to travel as the third-choice option, England would be taking an experienced player who has struggled to consistently transfer his club form onto the international stage and is no longer getting any younger.

A younger option could therefore make more sense.

McParland was outstanding for Northampton Saints while Mitchell was injured last season, and there were occasions when he arguably outperformed his more experienced teammate.

At just 21, he remains a hugely promising talent. His existing partnership with Fin Smith at club level would also make his integration into the England side easier if required.

Fly-half: George Ford, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith

This is arguably the easiest position to predict, with all three established as England's leading fly-half options.

Marcus Smith also offers some versatility, with the ability to cover fullback and potentially even scrum-half following his appearances there during the Nations Championship.

Fin Smith is likely to be England's first-choice fly-half, while Ford's experience and leadership could prove invaluable within the squad.

Centre: Seb Atkinson, Henry Slade, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Joe Marchant

There is finally some continuity at centre, with Atkinson, Slade and Janse van Rensburg all receiving significant minutes together during the summer and beginning to build combinations.

Atkinson and Slade have both been rewarded with central contracts, while Janse van Rensburg will expect to remain firmly in contention after England went to considerable lengths to make him eligible.

The final spot goes to a player who could offer something different following his time in France.

Marchant is returning to England with Sale Sharks this season and, if he can rediscover his best form, could bring his excellent running ability into the England squad.

His ability to cover the wing also gives Borthwick the versatility he tends to value.

Back three: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Noah Caluori

There may not be room for a large number of specialist back-three players because England have several other options who can cover these positions.

In a 33-player squad, it is difficult to justify too much depth in an area where players can potentially be moved around to cover injuries.

Feyi-Waboso, Freeman and Furbank would be our predicted starting back three, assuming all three remain fit, with Marcus Smith providing additional cover at fullback and Marchant able to move onto the wing.

Caluori is another option on the wing after bursting onto the scene this season. Still just 19, the Saracens youngster has already shown an impressive ability under the high ball and looks capable of developing into a top-level player.

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England's route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final: Borthwick handed dream draw

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw now confirmed, England’s potential path through the knockout stages is beginning to take shape.

Steve Borthwick’s side appear to have landed on the more favourable half of the draw, raising hopes of another deep run on the sport’s biggest stage.

From the pool phase to a possible final in Australia, here is England’s projected route through the tournament — and the major rivals who could stand in their way.

Pool Stage

England have been drawn with Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Pool F at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Although Wales are likely to strengthen by then, Steve Borthwick’s team will still be firm favourites to top the pool and advance to the round of 16 without major difficulty.

Round of 16

If England top their group, they will meet the Pool B runners-up in the round of 16. Pool B features South Africa, Italy, Georgia and Romania. The Springboks are expected to win the pool, meaning England would avoid the reigning back-to-back world champions, and the remaining teams are unlikely to pose a major threat.

Italy are the most probable candidates for second place. Although they are an improving side and far from a guaranteed victory, England should still be confident of beating them.

Quarter-finals

Italy’s defeat would set up a quarter-final against a runner-up from either Pool A or Pool E. Pool A includes the All Blacks and hosts Australia, raising the possibility of a rematch of the 2003 final between England and the Wallabies — a tricky prospect given Australia’s home advantage.

The Pool E runner-up is most likely to be Japan, though the USA or Samoa could also feature. Regardless, Australia are expected to progress, potentially paving the way for a thrilling showdown with a traditional rivals

Semi-finals

If England can navigate the Wallabies without major setbacks, they should reach the semi-finals — at which point the outcome becomes far harder to predict. Their side of the draw will feature two third-placed teams and two pool winners, and it’s likely that one of those pool winners will progress to the semis.

That would mean facing the winner of either Pool C or Pool D. Argentina are favourites in Pool C, while Pool D could be topped by either Ireland or Scotland. Any of these sides would pose a significant test, but England would still back themselves to compete strongly against each of them.

Final

And if they overcome their semi-final opponents, the most probable finalists waiting on the other side of the draw would be New Zealand or South Africa. Both are powerhouse rugby nations with exceptional squads, though South Africa have had the upper hand in recent years as back-to-back World Cup champions and current Rugby Championship holders.

That sets up the real possibility of a repeat of the 2019 final in Japan, where the Springboks claimed a 32–12 victory.

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