England star sent home from squad, replacement confirmed

The Northampton Saints No.9 has been a key figure under Steve Borthwick, starting all three of England’s opening fixtures and playing the majority of available minutes. His absence is set to be significant ahead of the trip to face Italy, who will be chasing a first-ever victory over England in their 33rd attempt.

Italy have already pushed both France and Ireland close, and claimed a home win over Scotland in the opening round. With England travelling to Rome amid a dip in form, Mitchell’s injury only deepens the frustration following the abrupt end to their 12-match winning streak and the near disappearance of their title hopes.

Speaking on the injury, Steve Borthwick said, "Alex Mitchell went off on Saturday with a hamstring injury. He's been scanned and seen the relevant specialists, he'll be out for a number of weeks unfortunately so won't feature in the remainder of this championship for England."

England’s problems have been compounded by a fresh concern over Ollie Lawrence, who required an injection to address a recurring knee issue after making his first start back against Ireland. While his outlook is more positive, he remains a doubt for the Italy fixture, though Borthwick has confirmed there is still a possibility he could feature.

"Ollie Lawrence is not in the squad for these couple of days. He saw a specialist yesterday for an injection around his knee, that will hopefully be clear in the next couple of days but hopefully that will be a very short term."

Although no replacement has yet been called up for Lawrence, Mitchell’s spot will be filled by Raffi Quirke of Sale Sharks.

"Raffi Quirke has joined the squad. He was close to being in the squad right at the start of the championship. I thought he did a great job with the A's as did Harry Randall and he was in the squad during the autumn, so delighted he's joined us."

There is, however, encouragement surrounding George Furbank, who could soon return to contention, particularly after Freddie Steward endured a difficult outing against Ireland and was substituted inside the opening half hour as part of a tactical reshuffle.

"George Furbank is at Northampton all this week. He's in preparation to play for Northampton this coming weekend, that's why he is not in the squad."

Borthwick also confirmed that several players will split their time between England camp and club duty this week, including Manny Iyogun, Theo Dan, Billy Sela, Arthur Clark, Chandler Cunningham South, Seb Atkinson and Caden Murley.

"We've got a number of players who started the week at their clubs with us in the middle of the week and will go return to their clubs to play some game time this weekend. Manny Iyogun, Theo Dan, Billy Sela, Arthur Clark, Chandler Cunningham South, Seb Atkinson, Caden Murley."

All are expected to be available for the Rome clash after gaining match minutes, potentially injecting fresh impetus into a squad that has recently looked short of spark.

"Yes. I'm looking forward to seeing….in a number of positions we have fierce competition. One, I'm looking forward to seeing how these players train tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the players go and play for their clubs on Saturday before I make selection decisions at the very start of next week."

Men’s Rugby World Cup is heading to Australia and organisers announced that it would be bigger than ever in welcoming the world: 24 nations and territories, seven cities, six weeks, one cup. Fans had been invited to register their interest for pre-sale details.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson was joined on stage by former Rugby World Cup winner and All Blacks legend Dan Carter, Australia’s most-capped male player, James Slipper, and Australian Olympics gold medallist, Alicia Lucas, as they conducted the draw.

Each of the six pools featured a team from Bands 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The confirmed Bands based on rankings were:

Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina
Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan
Band 3: Georgia, Uruguay, Spain, USA, Chile, Tonga
Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe, Canada

New Zealand – Perennial contenders with flair, power and unmatched rugby IQ.
Australia – Unpredictable but dangerous, capable of brilliance on their day.
Chile – Fast-improving newcomers bringing passion and fearless physicality.
Hong Kong China – Skillful, energetic, and eager to prove themselves on the global stage.

South Africa – Brutal, relentless, and brutally efficient—never count them out.
Italy – Developing rapidly, mixing strong set-piece work with expanding ambition.
Georgia – Scrum specialists with raw forward strength and growing all-round polish.
Romania – Proud and powerful, known for toughness and unwavering fight.

Argentina – Dynamic, crafty, and fiercely competitive with a never-say-die spirit.
Fiji – Magical offloads, searing pace, and unique unpredictability.
Spain – Determined climbers building consistency and confidence every year.
Canada – Physical and committed, working to regain their traditional sharpness.

Ireland – Well-drilled, intelligent, and ruthlessly efficient across the park.
Scotland – Creative attackers with growing confidence and slick backline play.
Uruguay – Tenacious, organized, and fearless against bigger rugby nations.
Portugal – Exciting, fast-paced, and thriving with a young, fearless core.

France – Electric, unpredictable, and capable of brilliance from anywhere.
Japan – High-tempo, disciplined, and tactically sharp—they never stop moving.
USA – Athletic and physical, with a growing pool of exciting talent.
Samoa – Bone-shaking tackles, powerful runners, and trademark island flair.

England – Structured, strategic, and capable of grinding down any opponent.
Wales – Proud, passionate, and dangerous when the momentum swings their way.
Tonga – Heavy hitters with explosive power and fearless intensity.
Zimbabwe – Energetic and ambitious, bringing speed and spirit to every contest.

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!