Exciting Developments in Rugby: England's New Talent for the Six Nations!
In a bold move, head coach Steve Borthwick has introduced three fresh faces to the England rugby team as they prepare for the upcoming Six Nations tournament. The uncapped trio—Greg Fisilau, Vilikesa Sela, and Emmanuel Iyogun—reflects the exciting potential and depth of talent within English rugby.
At just 22 years old, Exeter's No 8, Greg Fisilau, has been recognized for his impressive performances at club level, earning him a spot on the national stage. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Vilikesa Sela has made the squad due to injuries sidelining key players, such as Will Stuart (who is dealing with an Achilles issue) and Asher Opoku-Fordjour (recovering from a shoulder injury).
The 36-player roster also sees the return of Trevor Davison, a tighthead prop from Northampton Saints, who has recently reclaimed his place on the team after making his first Test appearance in four years during a summer match against the USA. Joining him is his club teammate, 25-year-old loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun, who steps in for Fin Baxter, currently nursing a calf injury but expected to be back in action during the tournament.
Notably, the squad includes several players solely listed for rehabilitation due to injuries: fly-half Fin Smith (calf), wing Tom Roebuck (toe), center Ollie Lawrence (knee), and back-row player Ben Curry (hamstring). These concerns highlight the physical demands of the sport and the ongoing challenges teams face in maintaining a healthy roster.
While many eyes were on Saracens' promising young wing Noah Caluori—who impressed with five tries during his Premiership debut—the 19-year-old will instead represent England's U20 side this window, indicating the importance of nurturing talent at all levels.
Since the Autumn, several new additions have been made to the squad, including Gloucester lock Arthur Clark, Sale loosehead Bevan Rodd, Northampton full-back George Furbank, Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, and Gloucester center Seb Atkinson. This influx of talent showcases the robust pipeline of players ready to make their mark.
However, not everyone made the cut—Saracens lock Nick Isiekwe, Harlequins back-row Jack Kenningham, and Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke are among those who have been dropped from consideration.
Borthwick expressed confidence in his selections, stating, "We’ve chosen a squad that balances experience, leadership, and a wealth of exciting potential. The margins in the Six Nations are incredibly fine, so our goal in the coming days is to unite quickly, prepare thoroughly, and ensure we’re primed for performance. If we prepare effectively and maintain high expectations of each other, we position ourselves strongly for the Championship."
Here’s the complete 36-player squad for England in the 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), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 7 caps), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 5 caps), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 10 caps), Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, uncapped), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 45 caps).
Backs (16):
Henry Arundell (Bath 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 (Bath Rugby, 2 caps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 74 caps), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 46 caps), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 14 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps).
What do you think of Borthwick's selections? Do you believe the inclusion of these uncapped players will strengthen the team's chances in the Six Nations? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!
