"Time to step up" - 5 England hopefuls for the Summer Tour of Argentina & USA

England will head to Argentina in July for a two-match showdown, before completing a cross-continental trip with a standalone fixture against the United States in Washington DC. Steve Borthwick will be without a litany of his biggest stars for the tour, with his captain Maro Itoje expected to lead plenty of Lions call-ups onward from the England squad.

With such tough contention for places upon Andy Farrell's squad, some leading names of the England set-up could well miss out, with Marcus Smith among the conversation for a potential high-profile omission. Borthwick would likely hand such high caliber players a break from their England duties, with only a few short months separating them from another tough block of Twickenham Tests in the Autumn Nations Series.

Be it an uncapped bolter with hopes of the spotlight, or an experienced England star gunning for a return to the Test match stage, the Summer tour has long been a proving ground for a nation's fringe players. The latest round of the Premiership Rugby season showcased an incredible array of candidates for Borthwick's Buenos Aires-bound brigade, with a freshened feel anticipated for England's battles with Los Pumas and the American Eagles this Summer.

It was a historic weekend for Christian Wade, as the Gloucester wing scored the seventh Premiership hat-trick of his career. This accomplishment took place in the Cherry and Whites' thumping 53-28 win over Bristol Bears, as Wade toppled former England wing Chris Ashton to become the Premiership's greatest ever hat-trick hero.

Wade returned to the Premiership ahead of the 2024/25 season, following stints in the NFL and at Racing 92, and has been formidable upon his comeback. The 33-year-old has eight tries to his name this season, with Bristol Bears providing the opportune opponent for Wade to score back-to-back hat-tricks. Whilst Wade has enjoyed a storied club career, and tried his hand at American Football, he has never been able to gain traction upon rugby union's international stage.

Despite his seven competitions for England Sevens, Wade just has one senior 15s Test cap under his belt. Wade's 'one and done' moment saw him play the full 80 minutes against Argentina, upon England's 2013 Summer Tour to South America. History could well repeat itself some 12 years later, as the door opens back up to Wade to step up to the Test match stage this Summer.

One man whom England fans are eager to see make his return to the Test match stage, Henry Pollock has been a firecracker for Northampton Saints this season. The teenage prodigy once again showcased his extraordinary talent with a stunning display of skill against Sale. Pollock executed a sublime kick-and-chase try to score against the Sharks, with the viral clip re-played time and again across social media.

It is staggering to think that the back rower is just 20-years-old, as he plays with the brash confidence and astute expertise of an established Test match star. For the next few months, much like Christian Wade, Pollock finds himself in the ranks of England's 'One Cap Wonders'. However, that will likely change come the Summer tour across the Americas, with the expectation that Pollock will earn his first England start.

The England U20s graduate was apart of the immortal class of '24, who won both the 2024 U20 Six Nations and the U20 World Championships. Pollock has been fast-tracked with a meteoric trajectory into the senior England set-up, much like his elder U20s teammate Chandler Cunningham-South.

Following in the Harlequins' footsteps just one year later, Pollock made his senior England debut off the bench in Cardiff, as England dismantled Wales in the final round of the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations. It was an unforgettable day for the young back row, as he scored two tries during the famous win in the Welsh Capital.

Harlequins’ midfield general Luke Northmore put in a commanding performance in a high-scoring match against Bath. Despite being on the losing side with the Londoners, Northmore impressed upon his 80 minute outing and added another claim to his portfolio for an England involvement. Northmore's effort was a testament to his resilience, as he consistently imposed himself both in attack and defense, despite the ever-building score-line from the blue, black and whites.

Northmore’s ability to read the game and identify opportunities was on full display, culminating in a well-taken try that highlighted his sharp awareness and finishing ability. Exploiting gaps in Bath’s defensive line, he showcased the attacking flair that has made him a key player for Harlequins, reinforcing his reputation as a dynamic and intelligent center. Borthwick has called upon Northmore to pad-out the midfield options of the England training squads, but no senior Test debut has come calling just yet.

Northmore's opportunity almost came to fruition mid-way through the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations, as Ollie Lawrence sustained an Achilles injury against Italy. However, instead of unleashing Northmore in the midfield for the final round against Wales, Borthwick opted to move his regular wing Tommy Freeman to the centres, to partner up with his Northampton teammate Fraser Dingwall. With the summer tour to Argentina and the USA on the horizon, Northmore will be eager to seize every opportunity to prove himself worthy of a place and earn a long-awaited England debut.

Bath wing Will Muir delivered another outstanding performance against Harlequins, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most dangerous finishers in the Premiership. His two-try haul was a testament to his clinical edge in attack, as he consistently found himself in the right place at the right time to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Despite having his 2024/25 Premiership season hindered by repeated hamstring injuries, Muir's stunning strike record of eight tries in eleven matches has defined his rising stock amongst England's best wingers.

Beyond his finishing ability, Muir’s physicality in contact made him a handful for the hapless Quins defenders, while his dominance in the air added another dimension to Bath’s attacking arsenal, that Borthwick would gladly utilise. Muir has all the qualities to excel on the Test match stage, and Borthwick is certainly aware of his talents. The 29-year-old is a frequent feature of England's wider training squads, and brings a combination of tropes like that of Freddie Steward or Jonny May, to vary up England's attack with a tall, rangy, power-player on the touch-line.

With England’s summer tour fast approaching, Muir’s name is gaining traction as a potential inclusion in Steve Borthwick’s squad, as Tommy Freeman could make his way into the Lions books, and Manny Feyi-Waboso recovers from an injured shoulder. As England look to refresh their back-line options, will we soon see the man affectionately known as ‘Horse’ gallop onto the Test match stage? If his performances continue at this level, it may only be a matter of time before he bursts out of the stables and into England’s plans.

Jonny Hill put in a commanding display against Northampton, that is sure to have turned the heads of England selectors, especially with the summer tour drawing near. Borthwick will need to rotate through his locking order for the Summer tour, as Maro Itoje is a front-runner for the Lions captaincy, and has an all-but guaranteed spot in Australia. Also, Ollie Chessum had a stunning run of form throughout the 2025 Six Nations, and could well have played his way into the famous red jersey.

Then add in George Martin's double knee and shoulder injury concerns, and there is serious space to occupy within England's engine room. Hill could well get the call back into the England squad, for his first taste of Test match action since the Summer of 2023. The Sale man last played for England in a 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up match at Twickenham, which saw his side narrowly beat Wales on their road to the tournament.

Hill's dominance in the air was a key factor in Sale’s hard-fought victory over Northampton, as he consistently won crucial line-outs and disrupted opposition ball. In the set-piece, he was a pillar of strength, ensuring Sale had a solid platform to work from in both the scrum and lineout. Beyond his work in the tight exchanges, Hill’s physicality in open play stood out, as he carried with intent and made his presence felt in each collision with a green, black and gold representative.

Despite his recent resurgence, Hill’s journey back to top form has not been without its challenges. A 10-week suspension due to an altercation with a fan, was followed by a knee injury that further disrupted his rhythm. However, his latest performance suggests that he is regaining the sharpness and consistency required to compete in the England squad. Whether or not he make his first England cap since 2023 this Summer, only Steve Borthwick knows for sure.

This quiz tests your knowledge of that heralded group of 22 players who took on and beat the Wallabies in their own backyard, to be crowned World Champions on November 22, 2003.

Some of these are significantly easier than others.