Seven Northampton Saints players have been selected for England’s 36-man training squad for the forthcoming Guinness Six Nations – with Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith and Tom Pearson all called up by Steve Borthwick.
The Championship begins on Saturday 3 February when England play Italy at Stadio Olimpico in Rome (kick-off: 2.15pm).
Jamie George has also been named as the new England captain. The Saracens hooker becomes the 135th player to be appointed skipper since Frederick Stokes first led an England side in 1871.
Dingwall and Smith are two of seven uncapped players in the squad, which is made up of 20 forwards and 16 backs and will assemble at Pennyhill Park next Tuesday (23 January), before flying to Girona to begin their preparations for the Six Nations.
Furbank (6 caps) returns to the England squad for the first time since 2022, while Coles (3 caps), Freeman (3 caps) and Pearson (1 cap) will all also be hoping to add to their appearance tallies at Test level.
With 11 caps under his belt, scrum-half Mitchell is the most-experienced Saint in the group, and the 26-year-old will look to pick up where he left off from the Rugby World Cup – where he made five appearances and made England’s No.9 shirt his own.
Head coach Steve Borthwick said: “Building on the foundations of what the England team achieved at the Rugby World Cup, I have selected a squad that provides strong continuity and experience, whilst at the same time providing an opportunity to develop the talent of a number of new and less experienced players.
“I would particularly like to congratulate the new faces who have their first chance in an England squad, and very much look forward to seeing how that young talent can play an important part in ensuring that England continue to develop our game and move forward.”
Steve Borthwick, England Head Coach
“The Six Nations is a tremendously entertaining and hugely competitive competition. This year will be no different, and as we prepare for the challenge which awaits us against Italy in Rome, this squad will come together next week for a training camp in Girona.”
Following the Italy clash, England will host Wales at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 9 February (kick-off: 4.45pm).
England then travel to Edinburgh to take on Scotland at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 24 February (kick-off: 4.45pm) before returning to West London to face Ireland on Saturday 9 March (kick-off: 4.45pm).
England’s final game of the Championship sees them take on France on Saturday 16 March (kick-off: 8pm) at the Groupama Stadium, Lyon.
England’s 36-player Six Nations training squad
FORWARDS:
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 107 caps)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 41 caps)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, uncapped)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
Theo Dan (Saracens, 7 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 15 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 25 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 85 caps) – captain
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 11 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 76 caps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 88 caps)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
BACKS:
Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped)
Danny Care (Harlequins, 96 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 64 caps)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 91 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 21 caps
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 57 caps)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 30 caps)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
Rehabilitation: George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks) Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).
Next Home Match
