England squad for the 2026 Six Nations, big names miss out

Friday, 02 January 2026 at 18:29

byCharlie Elliott

With Christmas and New Year now behind us, focus shifts to the Six Nations, which begins in just over a month. After a superb year in which England won 11 of their 12 matches, Steve Borthwick’s side will have their sights firmly set on lifting the championship.

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Here’s a look at what their squad could shape up like.

Loosehead prop: Ellis Genge, Fin Baxter, Bevan Rodd

This is one of the more straightforward selections. All three looseheads are well established within the England setup and, provided they are fit and available, should be automatic picks for the squad.

Tighthead prop: Will Stuart, Joe Heyes, Asher Opoku-Fordjour

The picture at tighthead is similarly settled. Joe Heyes has enjoyed a breakout year in 2025 and is now firmly recognised as a Test-level operator, while Will Stuart remains a consistently high performer. Asher Opoku-Fordjour is arguably the most exciting young prop in world rugby, and further exposure at Test level would only aid his development.

Hooker: Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie Blamire

Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie are virtually guaranteed selections. The third spot, however, is more open following Theo Dan’s dip in form. Among the contenders, Jamie Blamire stands out. Reliable and in strong form for Leicester Tigers, he would provide a dependable third option, even if opportunities on the field may be limited behind the established pair.

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

Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum are certainties, not least because Itoje is likely to resume the captaincy. The remaining places are more intriguing. George Martin is returning from a lengthy injury layoff and, depending on his fitness and readiness after a shoulder issue, may or may not be deemed ready for the demands of Test rugby. If fit, his quality makes him hard to ignore.

Alex Coles, meanwhile, was an unsung hero in the autumn and a commanding presence in the engine room, and deserves to retain his place.

Back row: Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Henry Pollock, Guy Pepper, Ben Curry

Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper all impressed in the autumn and require little justification. The inclusion of the mercurial Henry Pollock as a squad option also makes sense, offering something different if required. The final spots are filled by the versatile Chandler Cunningham-South, who can also cover the second row, and Ben Curry.

Although Curry missed the autumn through injury, he showed his quality on the summer tour of Argentina and could round out the group effectively.

Scrum-half: Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Raffi Quirke

Alex Mitchell and Ben Spencer appear well established as the leading options, leaving room for a third scrum-half. Raffi Quirke fits that role well. After a slow start to the season, he has rediscovered his form for Sale, reminding observers of his explosive potential.

While consistency remains a question, his versatility and ability to offer a contrasting style — including cover on the wing — make him a valuable squad player.

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

The main debate here will centre on who starts, rather than who makes the squad. All three fly-halves have done more than enough to earn selection, presenting Steve Borthwick with a genuine selection dilemma — albeit a welcome one.

Centre: Fraser Dingwall, Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh

With Ollie Lawrence returning from long-term injury, he is expected to slot straight back into the side, as he did during the autumn. Fraser Dingwall remains the connective tissue of England’s attack, while Max Ojomoh merits another opportunity following strong club form and an impressive display against Argentina that suggested he is ready for Test rugby.

Back three: Tommy Freeman, Tom Roebuck, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Elliot Daly, Freddie Steward, Noah Caluori

Tommy Freeman may feature at outside centre but remains a back-three option. Roebuck and Feyi-Waboso should also be included, assuming Roebuck recovers from his toe injury in time. Elliot Daly’s versatility is always valuable, while Freddie Steward impressed at full-back in the autumn and looks set to continue there.

The final spot could go to another wildcard in Noah Caluori — the highly talented Saracens youngster whose early exposure at Test level could yield significant long-term rewards for England.