"Owen Farrell snubbed" - The likely 35-man England squad for autumn internationals

Wednesday, 01 October 2025 at 07:10

byRugby Rucker

England head coach Steve Borthwick is yet to announce his official squad for the Autumn Internationals, but rugby pundits and insiders are already making predictions.

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This predicted 35-man squad blends youth, experience, and a few bold calls — most notably the omission of Owen Farrell.

England kick off against Australia on 1 November at Twickenham, with fixtures against Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina to follow.

Here’s the likely lineup — with some cheeky subheadings to guide you through the breakdown.

Front Row Favourites — Props to Push You Around

England have gone for six props with a mix of grit, youth, and proven scrummaging.

Fin Baxter (Harlequins) — Young and scrummy.
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) — The enforcer with aggression to spare.
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) — Reliable and workmanlike.
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) — Front row veteran with stability.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks) — New blood, hungry for minutes.
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks) — Big, young, and eager to impress.

Hooked On Hookers

Three strong options to keep England rolling in the set-piece.

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks) — Mobility meets line-out precision.
Jamie George (Saracens) — England’s most capped hooker — a leader.
Theo Dan (Saracens) — Energetic and eager to stake his claim.

Locks of Love

A blend of brute force and line-out smarts.

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers) — Versatile and agile.
Maro Itoje (Saracens) — World-class powerhouse.
Arthur Clark (Gloucester) — Fresh, hungry, and looking to shine.
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints) — Young and full of promise.

Back Row Brigade — The Breakdown Kings

Expect plenty of breakdown fireworks here.

Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) — Workhorse with ball-carrying chops.
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) — Defensive dynamo.
Ben Earl (Saracens) — Physical, fast, and turnover-focused.
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints) — Bright prospect.
Tom Willis (Saracens) — Breakdown versatility.
Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby) — Hungry to prove himself.

Scrum-Half Shenanigans

Three slick passers with pace.

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints) — Quick, clever, clinical.
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers) — Young gun with kicking flair.
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears) — Speedster with an attacking edge.

Fly-Half Face-Off — Who Will Steer the Ship?

With Farrell absent, there’s a reshuffle in England’s game management.

George Ford (Sale Sharks) — Tactical wizard with experience.
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints) — Young, attacking playmaker.
Marcus Smith (Harlequins) — Flair, vision, and unpredictable magic.

Centre Stage — Power and Vision

Expect midfield fireworks.

Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) — Powerful crash ball runner.
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) — Experienced playmaker.
Seb Atkinson (Gloucester) — Young talent with raw potential.
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints) — Versatile and adaptable.

Back Three Blitz — Speed, Skill & Sky-High Kicks

A dangerous mix of youth and experience in the backfield.

Elliot Daly (Saracens) — Utility back with kicking prowess.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs) — Pace and finishing.
George Furbank (Northampton Saints) — Positional wizard.
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) — Try scorer in waiting.
Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby) — Young, explosive talent.
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) — Reliable full-back with defensive steel.