Three players stripped of RFU central contracts, replacements revealed

According to The Times, Sale Sharks duo Ben Curry and Tom Roebuck will lose their RFU deals, while Tom Willis is also set to drop off the list after confirming his move to French side Bordeaux-Bègles, making him ineligible for England selection.

The contracts provide players with around £150,000 per year on top of their club salaries, while also giving England greater control over areas such as injury rehabilitation and recovery.

With 25 players expected to receive contracts later today, the latest changes could also offer a clearer indication of how Steve Borthwick's 2027 World Cup squad is beginning to take shape.

Those handed deals are expected to make up the bulk of the group travelling to Australia next year.

The Times has also reported that Northampton Saints forward Alex Coles and Sale Sharks prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour are in line to replace two of the departing players.

A third replacement has yet to be revealed.

A regular during the 2025 Six Nations, Curry was rewarded with a central contract that same year.

However, his chances of retaining that deal have been hurt by a difficult 2025-26 campaign. The Sale back-rower made just four club appearances throughout the season and did not feature for England after struggling with a persistent hamstring problem.

Roebuck has slipped down the pecking order over the past year after losing his place during the 2026 Six Nations.

Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso remain ahead of him among the contracted wingers, while Cadan Murley and Noah Caluori have also been preferred in recent England matchday squads.

The Sale winger's strength under the high ball has long been one of his biggest assets, but Caluori's emergence could make it increasingly difficult for Roebuck to force his way back into Borthwick's plans.

Having left England and Saracens to join Champions Cup holders Bordeaux-Bègles, Willis is set to drop off the central contract list despite never making a Test appearance while holding one.

The back-rower was paid in full after joining the list last August, but his decision to move to France at the beginning of last season meant he was subsequently excluded from England squads.

Coles has established himself as an increasingly important member of the England squad over the past year.

The 26-year-old Northampton Saints forward featured in all 12 of England's Tests and started at lock during the July Nations Championship matches against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

His opportunities came with captain Maro Itoje rested, but his consistency throughout the season has put him firmly in contention for a place at next year's World Cup.

At just 22, Opoku-Fordjour has already collected eight England caps, with four of those coming during the last season.

His versatility is a major attraction, with the Sale prop capable of operating on both sides of the scrum.

Borthwick is expected to place significant value on versatile players when selecting his World Cup squad, making Opoku-Fordjour a strong fit for his plans.

The youngster is more experienced at tighthead and looks set to compete for a starting role there with Sale next season. The loosehead position appears more settled, with Bevan Rodd and Nicky Smith providing cover.

Steve Borthwick’s side appear to have landed on the more favourable half of the draw, raising hopes of another deep run on the sport’s biggest stage.

From the pool phase to a possible final in Australia, here is England’s projected route through the tournament — and the major rivals who could stand in their way.

England have been drawn with Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Pool F at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Although Wales are likely to strengthen by then, Steve Borthwick’s team will still be firm favourites to top the pool and advance to the round of 16 without major difficulty.

If England top their group, they will meet the Pool B runners-up in the round of 16. Pool B features South Africa, Italy, Georgia and Romania. The Springboks are expected to win the pool, meaning England would avoid the reigning back-to-back world champions, and the remaining teams are unlikely to pose a major threat.

Italy are the most probable candidates for second place. Although they are an improving side and far from a guaranteed victory, England should still be confident of beating them.

Italy’s defeat would set up a quarter-final against a runner-up from either Pool A or Pool E. Pool A includes the All Blacks and hosts Australia, raising the possibility of a rematch of the 2003 final between England and the Wallabies — a tricky prospect given Australia’s home advantage.

The Pool E runner-up is most likely to be Japan, though the USA or Samoa could also feature. Regardless, Australia are expected to progress, potentially paving the way for a thrilling showdown with a traditional rivals

If England can navigate the Wallabies without major setbacks, they should reach the semi-finals — at which point the outcome becomes far harder to predict. Their side of the draw will feature two third-placed teams and two pool winners, and it’s likely that one of those pool winners will progress to the semis.

That would mean facing the winner of either Pool C or Pool D. Argentina are favourites in Pool C, while Pool D could be topped by either Ireland or Scotland. Any of these sides would pose a significant test, but England would still back themselves to compete strongly against each of them.

And if they overcome their semi-final opponents, the most probable finalists waiting on the other side of the draw would be New Zealand or South Africa. Both are powerhouse rugby nations with exceptional squads, though South Africa have had the upper hand in recent years as back-to-back World Cup champions and current Rugby Championship holders.

That sets up the real possibility of a repeat of the 2019 final in Japan, where the Springboks claimed a 32–12 victory.