England head coach Steve Borthwick has conceded to Sky Sports activities his squad’s prop damage disaster is “unfortunate and disruptive” however says they may “attack the tournament” in the hunt for a primary Six Nations title since 2020.
With long-serving tighthead prop Dan Cole having retired on the finish of final season – enjoying Checks in November 2024 earlier than being fazed out throughout final 12 months’s championship – accidents have seen England lose Will Stuart (Achilles) and Asher Opoku-Fordjour (shoulder) for the whole lot of the event on that aspect of the scrum.
On the loosehead aspect there’s a notable damage too, with Harlequins prop Fin Baxter (calf) at present out.
The consequence has seen Borthwick identify an England Six Nations squad with two uncapped props in 20-year-old Tub tighthead Vilikesa Sela and 25-year-old Northampton loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun.
As well as, 33-year-old Northampton tighthead Trevor Davison has additionally made the minimize regardless of solely holding three caps and that includes for the primary time in 4 years in a Take a look at in opposition to the USA in the summertime.
With the scrum having taken on elevated significance in keeping with regulation modifications producing extra kick-to-compete techniques, Borthwick is conscious it’s miles from superb: “Sure, we have had a few bumps with props which are unavailable sadly, however what that does is it creates alternative for others.
“We have had the depth charts deliberate. Our scrum coach Tom Harrison focuses very a lot with these front-row forwards, and he is been actually clear on who the following participant in is.
“So whilst we didn’t necessarily want that disruption and changing things with new players, we’re also ready for it.
Joe Heyes is England’s solely skilled tighthead prop within the squad, and is joined by Vilikesa Sela and Trevor Davison
“I think we have a fantastic blend of experienced senior internationals. The squad was in a room and I talked about how many Six Nations games have been played, and there was probably 500 Six Nations games amongst the people in the room. It’s fantastic.
“After which we have this extremely proficient younger group of gamers which are embracing Take a look at rugby and are actually extremely formidable.”
Since suffering defeat to Ireland in Dublin at the beginning of the 2025 Six Nations, Borthwick’s side have won 11 Tests in a row, seeing off the likes of France, New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham.
As such, the 46-year-old cut a determined and positive figure when discussing the campaign ahead.
Steve Borthwick and skipper Maro Itoje will search to guide England to a primary main honour since 2020
“I think the team’s evolved. That first phase of being in the role was with a World Cup imminently upon us, and building a squad that was ready to take that World Cup on.
“Then there was a transition afterwards the place we transitioned rather a lot. From the type of play, the age-profile, the personnel throughout the squad.
“I think this team is really developing, and I think everybody can see it.
“I am additionally actually excited by the best way persons are speaking concerning the workforce. The way in which persons are speaking so positively and really feel a part of this group on the journey. The gamers really feel so related with the supporters.
“So coming to the beginning of this event, we’re clear on what we need to obtain by the top of it. It will come all the way down to how we begin.
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England’s Henry Pollock met Jamie Redknapp to debate the upcoming Six Nations and the goals Steve Borthwick has set the aspect
“That the players come in ready to play Test rugby, with an attitude to attack the tournament and play brave, big and fast.
“They should be prepared to coach on the depth we’d like to have the ability to deliver these performances onto the grass. I sense a bunch that’s hungry to growth and hungry to win each Take a look at match we go into.”
‘Fisilau is a player with phenomenal work-rate’
In addition to Sela and Iyogun, a third uncapped player was also named in England’s 36-player squad on Friday: Exeter Chiefs No 8 Greg Fisilau.
The 22-year-old has impressed consistently for Exeter and Borthwick offered high praise.
“He has phenomenal work-rate. Whenever you watch any sport and also you see a participant who appears to have an engine that simply retains going and he is there concerned time and again, that is Greg.
Exeter Chiefs No 8 Greg Fisilau has been named as one among three uncapped gamers in England’s 2026 Six Nations squad
“That’s the way he’s been playing for Exeter, and Exeter have been playing so well this season.
“He is earned this call-up and is an distinctive service. He carries in visitors, he carries broad and in house, he has glorious footwork and leg-drive post-contact.
“Part of why the England squad will push on is you’ve got hungry young players pushing, which is going to drive the standards throughout the whole squad.”
England’s 36-player squad for 2026 Six Nations
Forwards (20): Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 14 caps), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 53 caps), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 20 caps), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 65 caps), Theo Dan (Saracens, 20 caps), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), Ben Earl (Saracens, 46 caps), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 75 caps), Jamie George (Saracens, 105 caps), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 97 caps – captain), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Man Pepper (Tub Rugby, 7 caps), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 5 caps), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 10 caps), Vilikesa Sela (Tub Rugby, uncapped), Sam Underhill (Tub Rugby, 45 caps).
Backs (16): Henry Arundell (Tub Rugby, 11 caps), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps), Elliot Daly (Saracens, 74 caps), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 7 caps), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps), George Ford (Sale Sharks, 105 caps), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 22 caps), George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 14 caps), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 27 caps), Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 4 caps) , Max Ojomoh (Tub Rugby, 2 caps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 74 caps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 46 caps), Ben Spencer (Tub Rugby, 14 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps).
England’s 2026 Six Nations fixtures
Saturday February 7
Saturday February 14
Saturday February 21
Saturday March 7
Saturday March 14
