Maro Itoje has rejoined the England set‑up, featuring in the first squad named since the summer tour, but his club teammates Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant will have to wait for a chance to earn a recall. Itoje, who was rested for the recent Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, is now part of a 36‑man group that will commence autumn preparations with a three‑day training camp starting on Sunday.
The Saracens lock, who has been a mainstay of England's forward pack, is expected to resume his captaincy duties for the opening test against Australia at Allianz Stadium on 8 November. He will take over the armband from Jamie George, who stepped in as captain during the July matches.
Lawes and Marchant have become eligible for selection again after returning from their stints in France with Brive and Stade Français respectively. Their moves across the Channel effectively paused their international careers, and now head coach Steve Borthwick is reportedly keen to see how they reintegrate into the Gallagher Premiership before deciding whether to bring them back into future England squads.
Both players were members of the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad, and Lawes in particular draws attention because of the wealth of experience and leadership he could provide to an England side that is actively seeking those qualities. However, Borthwick appears to be taking a cautious approach, preferring to assess their form and fitness in the domestic competition first.
In addition to the returning forwards, the squad also includes the highly‑rated prop Fin Baxter, who is back after a series of foot injuries kept him sidelined since December. Young talents such as Archie McParland and Kepueli Tuipulotu have also earned places in the group, reflecting a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging prospects.
McParland, a scrum‑half for Northampton Saints, was originally slated to join the summer tour. Unfortunately, a serious leg wound suffered in the Premiership final against Exeter forced him out of that plan.
The injury, however, has opened a window for him to showcase his abilities during the autumn camp, especially as established half‑backs Alex Mitchell (hamstring) and Ben Spencer (shoulder) are still undergoing rehabilitation with their clubs. Other injury concerns affect the squad composition as well.
Max Ojomoh is out with a calf problem, Noah Clauori is sidelined by a wrist injury, and Tom Roebuck’s selection for Sale on Sunday prevents his involvement with the national side at this stage. Additionally, Jamie George and Ollie Chessum have joined the training group but are receiving treatment for groin and foot issues respectively.
The forward roster for the upcoming camp includes: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan‑Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham‑South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), George Kloska (Bristol Bears), George Martin (Saracens), Asher Opoku‑Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Kepueli Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby). The backline selections feature: Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Tobias Elliott (Saracens), Immanuel Feyi‑Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Harlequins), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears), Archie McParland (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers). England will host Australia at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Sunday, 8 November, as part of round four of the Nations Championship. The match will be followed by fixtures against Japan and New Zealand later in the series.
Fans can also look forward to the fourth and final test between New Zealand and South Africa, which will be broadcast live from Baltimore, USA, on Sky Sports Action at 10 pm on Saturday. The inclusion of Itoje signals continuity and leadership in the second row, while the cautious approach to Lawes and Marchant underscores Borthwick’s desire to ensure that any returning players are fully match‑fit and in form before re‑entering the international arena. The blend of experienced internationals, recovering veterans, and promising youngsters creates a balanced squad poised to compete strongly in the upcoming autumn internationals and beyond.