"England's Dupont" - 5 Unluckiest England Hopefuls that missed the Summer Tour

Steve Borthwick has named a 36-player squad for the tour. With several key players away with the British and Irish Lions, opportunities have opened up for some otherwise fringe names. However, the absence of these stars also gave Borthwick a selection headache, as many of the remaining options are still unproven at Test level.

As a result, a number of seriously talented players have missed out on travelling with England this summer.

The Premiership's top try-scorer being left out of the squad feels hard to justify—especially considering that Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, selected in his place, is suspended for the two Tests against Argentina due to a reckless tackle against France XV.

Hassell-Collins has been in electric form for Leicester Tigers, finishing the season with 13 tries—tied with fellow England snub Gabriel Ibitoye. While Ibitoye’s exclusion is more understandable due to his defensive issues, Hassell-Collins is a more well-rounded player whose form clearly merits selection.

He is strong defensively and consistently dangerous in attack—exactly the attributes England need on the wing.

Quirke’s omission makes some sense on the surface given his inconsistent recent form, but he can still feel hard done by.

Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Spencer, and Harry Randall were the three scrum-halves selected ahead of him, reflecting England’s considerable depth at the position—even with Alex Mitchell away on Lions duty.

While Quirke underperformed in the Premiership semi-final, he remains a player with all the tools to become a top-tier international. This tour has been described as something of a "development tour," and Quirke fits the bill of a high-upside wildcard who could benefit from that environment.

Spencer and Van Poortvliet are likely second and third choice behind Mitchell, but with Spencer now in his 30s, identifying his long-term successor is important.

One of the season’s breakout stars, Ma’asi-White has gone from Championship loan spells to the cusp of an England cap.

The 22-year-old centre was playing for Caldy as recently as December 2024 but has since impressed for Sale Sharks, particularly in the Premiership semi-final against Leicester Tigers.

His performances earned him a spot in England’s pre-tour training camp, suggesting Borthwick is monitoring his progress closely.

Trained by family friend Manu Tuilagi, Ma’asi-White’s game shows clear influence from the veteran England centre. While he may need more time to fully refine his game, his omission is still a tough one—especially given that some selected centres have had prior opportunities at Test level without impressing.

England’s depth at openside flanker is remarkable, and Kenningham’s absence underlines just how stacked the position is.

He has been one of Harlequins' standout performers this season, consistently winning turnovers and offering real quality with ball in hand.

With Ben Curry and Sam Underhill preferred, Kenningham was always facing an uphill battle. While there are arguments that he could be more deserving than one or both, the reality is that Curry and Underhill have proven themselves on the Test stage.

Still, Kenningham’s form suggests he isn’t far off that level—and his exclusion highlights the fierce competition in the back row.

Like Hassell-Collins, Radwan is another red-hot winger who has missed out, and the decision feels equally harsh.

Since joining Leicester Tigers from Newcastle Falcons mid-season, Radwan has been electric. His pace is arguably unmatched in the Premiership, and he played a vital role in Tigers reaching the final—his semi-final try against Sale Sharks was a highlight of the season.

His omission becomes more baffling in light of Feyi-Waboso’s selection, given the latter’s two-game suspension. While keeping Feyi-Waboso around the England environment makes sense for development, picking him over two in-form wingers—both of whom could actually play in all three Tests—raises questions.

Ultimately, it’s led to two of the league’s best-performing wingers being left behind.

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