Marcus Smith ‘dreams’ of swapping nations before he retires from playing rugby

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Born in Manila to a Filipino mother and British father, Smith spent the first eight years of his life in the Philippines before moving to the UK.

The 24-year-old has never hidden his pride in his heritage, even sporting tattoos inspired by Filipino tribal designs—and famously wearing underwear featuring the country’s flag under his England kit.

With 30 caps already under his belt, Smith remains fully committed to Steve Borthwick’s side. However, under current World Rugby eligibility rules, a player can represent another country after a three-year stand-down period, opening the door for a potential future with the Philippines national team.

Speaking during an "Ask Me Anything" session with England Rugby, Smith was quizzed on the possibility of a post-England switch.

“One day I’d love to help and be involved in Philippine rugby, my brother currently plays for the Philippines,” he revealed.

“Obviously my heart and my mind are fully with England at the minute, it’s a dream of mine to be wearing this kit right now.

" One day that might be different, or when I retire from here, if I get that opportunity—if my body still holds up—it would be lovely to play with both of them.”

Smith’s strong family ties and patriotic pride could make him a superstar addition to the Philippine national side down the line—and we are absolutely here for it.

It gave head coach Steve Borthwick more control than ever, including the final word on all sports science and medical matters.

Among the big winners were George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith – all three fly-halves receiving upgraded deals ahead of the autumn internationals.

But fast forward six months, and not all those golden ticket holders are sitting pretty. We take a look at three players who could be on the chopping block ahead of the next round of central contract decisions.

Slade’s silky style has long made him a favourite with fans – but his Six Nations was anything but smooth. Once pencilled in as a midfield maestro, he now finds himself completely out of Borthwick’s 23.

His combination with Ollie Lawrence never quite clicked, and although there were flickers of promise, it wasn't enough to convince the coaches. Slade was ultimately cast aside in favour of Fraser Dingwall, and now his England future – and his central contract – looks seriously uncertain.

Possible replacement: Fraser Dingwall

The mid-Six Nations switch that saw him take Slade's place has given Dingwall a solid opportunity to make a real push for a long-term role in the squad. A gritty and intelligent player, he’s an ideal fit in the centre and could continue his rise with consistent performances.

Dan looked to be the hooker-in-waiting not long ago, but with Luke Cowan-Dickie back in the mix and firing, the Saracen has tumbled down the pecking order.

He managed just a single appearance in the 2025 Six Nations, coming off the bench late against Ireland when the game was already slipping away.

He gave it his all and made his presence felt in the collisions, but the timing didn’t allow for a real impact.

With Jamie George still first choice and LCD surging back, Dan might be sweating over that central contract renewal.

Possible replacement: Luke Cowan-Dickie

With the England hooker pool still fairly tight, LCD’s return to form after a spell on the sidelines could see him leapfrog others back into the starting role. His set-piece mastery and work rate up front could be enough to secure him a spot, especially with competition thinning out.

Here’s the big one. Ford, the experienced general with nearly a century of caps, has found himself on the fringes thanks to Fin Smith’s electric rise.

He only got a sliver of game time during the Championship – a brief stint against Wales – but what a cameo it was.

Two assists and a masterclass in game management. Classic Ford: overlooked, underrated, but undeniably brilliant.

With both Smiths tipped for Lions duty this summer, Ford will have a golden window to remind everyone – including Borthwick – why he still deserves that England contract.

Possible replacement: Jack van Poortvliet (this would even up the squad with two scrum-halves and two fly-halves)

A real option for the future at scrum-half, van Poortvliet could offer Borthwick the ideal balance in the half-back department. With the potential for two fly-halves and two scrum-halves in the squad, van Poortvliet's dynamism and composure could provide the extra spark needed to even things out.