England squad update: Steve Borthwick adds three

Rugby News
Monday, 16 February 2026 at 10:28
England have confirmed there are minimal changes to the squad ahead of their Six Nations clash with Ireland, with head coach Steve Borthwick opting for continuity following the Calcutta Cup defeat.
There will be no formal squad update later in the week, as the group remains largely unchanged.

Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel

and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.

➕ Who Has Been Added?

The only additions to the training group are:
  • Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby)
  • George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Both players return after spending last week in rehab and are now back involved in preparations.
Furbank’s return offers valuable versatility across the backline, while Sela strengthens England’s outside-back options at a time when depth is being tested.

➖ Who Misses Out?

The only player to drop out of the squad is George Kloska (Bristol Bears), meaning the overall shape of the group remains consistent with last week’s selection.
With England looking to respond to defeat against Scotland, Borthwick has clearly decided stability — rather than wholesale change — is the right approach heading into one of the toughest fixtures of the championship.

[elementor-template id="208937"]

EDITORS PICKS:

loading

Loading