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5 days ago

Six Nations LIVE: England make massive captaincy call as Steve Borthwick’s squad revealed

Maro Itoje has been appointed skipper, supplanting Saracens teammate Jamie George in the role

Harry Latham-Coyle
at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Tuesday 14 January 2025 11:35 GMT
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Maro Itoje will captain England in the upcoming Six Nations
Maro Itoje will captain England in the upcoming Six Nations (Mike Egerton/PA)

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England have made made a huge captaincy call ahead of a a crucial Six Nations with head coach Steve Borthwick appointing Maro Itoje as captain. The Saracens lock, long one of his nation’s most consistent performers, takes the role from club colleague Jamie George to begin a new era for the side.

After a disappointing autumn to conclude an up-and-down 2024, Borthwick is a man under pressure as he prepares to take charge of his third Six Nations campaign. It’s a demanding start for England, too, with Ireland in Dublin on the opening weekend followed by France back on home soil a week later to open the tournament. A 36-man squad has been named today with standout Premiership performers including Tom Willis of Saracens earning inclusion.

While a relatively settled squad is , flanker Sam Underhill and wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso both miss out after suffering injuries. Full-back George Furbank is working his way back to fitness after a fractured arm and is also omitted, while Dan Cole’s international career appears at an end after the veteran tighthead’s dropping. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have tasked Borthwick with achieving at least four wins in a vital campaign.

Follow all of the latest from Borthwick’s squad unveiling in our live blog below:

5 days ago

England face Six Nations blow as flanker Sam Underhill needs ankle surgery

England flanker Sam Underhill is unlikely to play any part in the Six Nations after his club Bath revealed he requires an ankle operation.

Underhill sustained the injury when coming on as a replacement in last Sunday’s 35-34 defeat by Northampton and with no date given for his return, he looks set to miss the entire championship.

“Sam will undergo surgery to rectify a new ankle injury. There is no set timeframe on his recovery,” a Bath medical update said.

England face Six Nations blow as flanker Sam Underhill needs ankle surgery

Underhill’s club Bath said there is no set timeframe on his recovery from the operation.

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 10:15
5 days ago

Warren Gatland challenges Dan Edwards to stake claim for Wales fly-half role

With neither Sam Costelow or Gareth Anscombe involved, opportunity abounds for Ospreys ten Dan Edwards, who has been going very well in the United Rugby Championship and will now look to step up to international level.

Warren Gatland challenges Dan Edwards to stake claim for Wales fly-half role

Edwards and Scarlets wing Ellis Mee are the Test rookies among a 34-strong group.

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 10:00
5 days ago

The strange selection decision that shows Wales’ muddled thinking ahead of the Six Nations

Even with Costelow absent, there is no place for Gareth Anscombe in Warren Gatland’s 34-man squad, a strange decision that reflects the muddled thinking that has been common during their 12-Test losing run:

The strange selection that shows Wales’ muddled thinking ahead of Six Nations

Experienced fly half Gareth Anscombe has been left out of Warren Gatland’s squad for a tournament in which Wales must show improvement

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 09:45
5 days ago

Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau return to Wales squad for Six Nations but Warren Gatland dealt injury blow

Wales confirmed their squad for the Six Nations yesterday, with Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau two pretty significant returnees. There will be no Sam Costelow, though - the Scarlets fly half will miss the tournament due to injury.

Liam Williams and Taulupe Faletau return to Wales squad for Six Nations

Sam Costelow will miss the entire campaign after suffering a broken collarbone, while fellow fly half Gareth Anscombe has been left out

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 09:30
5 days ago

RFU to hold special general meeting after Six Nations over Bill Sweeney future

The Rugby Football Union has agreed to hold a special general meeting after the Six Nations when chief executive Bill Sweeney will face calls for his removal.

A day after rejecting a letter from a grassroots revolt calling for a vote of no confidence in Sweeney on the grounds of bureaucratic technicalities, the RFU performed a U-turn on Friday and the SGM will now take place in March or April.

Infuriated by the executives pay and bonus scandal that came to light in November, as well as other grievances, a formal letter featuring the signatories of 141 RFU member clubs and referees societies was submitted on Thursday.

RFU to hold special general meeting after Six Nations over Bill Sweeney future

The SGM will take place in March or April after a U-turn from the RFU.

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 09:15
5 days ago

Former RFU remuneration chief defends Bill Sweeney’s bonus payments after record loss

Genevieve Shore was the chair of the remuneration committee that agreed to the bonuses back in 2021 as part of a Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP). I spoke to her last week in her new role as executive chair of Premiership Women’s Rugby:

Former RFU remuneration chief defends Bill Sweeney’s bonus amid record loss

Sweeney remains under serious pressure after uproar around the paying of a bonus of nearly £400,000 in a year that the RFU made a significant loss

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 09:00
5 days ago

The tone deaf decision that has plunged England’s Rugby Football Union into crisis

Things have rather erupted in English rugby union since the end of that campaign, lifting the scrutiny off Steve Borthwick and on to the hierarchy in the backrooms at Twickenham. Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Bill Sweeney remains under severe pressure after a tone deaf decision to accept a huge bonus at the end of a year that saw record losses for the union.

The tone deaf decision that has plunged England’s Rugby Football Union into crisis

Uproar over the payment of a large bonus at a time of financial strife has imperiled chief executive Bill Sweeney

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 08:45
5 days ago

What next for England after frustrating autumn? Five questions Steve Borthwick must answer

A record of just five wins from 12 games in 2024 reflected a year of missed chances for England. From Lyon in the spring to Auckland in the summer right through to three defeats in November, Steve Borthwick’s side repeatedly put themselves in winning positions this year yet, come the crunch, failed or faltered.

After a third-place finish at last year’s World Cup, the team has undergone a relatively significant regeneration. Nine new caps have made their international debuts, while other relatively inexperienced individuals like Tommy Freeman and George Furbank were given new prominence within the set-up.

While their final-quarter collapses have undermined much of the progress made, Borthwick is confident he has the pieces in place to build a winning team. The head coach has regularly cited the youthful age profile of his squad while retaining a senior leadership group he has full faith in. He is confident that the upheaval caused by the shock departures of defence coach Felix Jones and strength and conditioning guru Aled Walters will not be repeated.

But the start of the Six Nations is highly demanding: a trip to Ireland on the opening weekend is followed by a first home clash with France since a record defeat at Twickenham in 2023. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) have set an ambitious ask of four wins from five in the spring campaign, something England have not achieved since the 2020 edition.

After the Autumn Nations Series, we looked at five key questions that Borthwick must address to set England up for success.

What next for England after frustrating autumn? Five key questions to answer

Three defeats from four games in November left England ruing their missed opportunities but there was encouragement to take from some aspects of their play

Harry Latham-Coyle14 January 2025 08:30
6 days ago

England announce Six Nations squad - LIVE

A very good morning and welcome along to LIVE coverage as England prepare to announce their squad for the upcoming Six Nations. Steve Borthwick has plenty to consider ahead of a crucial campaign, and will confirm his selection at 11.30am GMT with little more than a fortnight until his side kick off their tournament against Ireland.

(PA Wire)
Harry Latham-Coyle13 January 2025 12:33

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