Maro Itoje has rejoined the England senior group for the first time since the summer tour, but his teammates Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchand will have to earn their recall by proving their form with Sale. Itoje, who was rested for the Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, is now part of a 36‑man training camp that kicks off on Sunday and will serve as the foundation for the autumn series. The Saracens lock is expected to resume his captaincy duties for the opening test against Australia at Allianz Stadium on 8 November, taking the armband from Jamie George, who covered the role during the July matches. Lawes and Marchand have become eligible for selection again after completing their moves from French clubs Brive and Stade Français.
Their transfers across the Channel temporarily paused their international careers, and head coach Steve Borthwick has indicated that he wants to see how quickly they reintegrate into the Gallagher Premiership before deciding whether to include them in future England squads. Both players featured in the 2023 World Cup squad, and Lawes in particular is under scrutiny because of the leadership and experience he could add to a side that is actively seeking seasoned heads.
In addition to the returning stars, the squad also welcomes highly‑rated prop Fin Baxter, who has finally recovered from a series of foot injuries that kept him out of action since December. Young talents Archie McParland and Kepueli Tuipulotu have also earned places. McParland, a scrum‑half, was initially slated to join the summer tour but suffered a severe leg wound during Northampton’s Premiership final win over Exeter, which forced his withdrawal.
His recovery now offers him a fresh opportunity to impress Borthwick, especially as established half‑backs Alex Mitchell (hamstring) and Ben Spencer (shoulder) are still undergoing rehabilitation with their clubs. Injury concerns continue to shape the roster. Max Ojomoh is sidelined with a calf problem, Noah Clauori is out with a wrist injury, and Tom Roebuck’s selection for Sale on Sunday makes him unavailable for the national camp.
Both Jamie George and Ollie Chessum have joined the squad but are receiving treatment for groin and foot issues respectively, meaning their participation will be limited until they are fully fit. The forward pack listed for the 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 autumn window. Fans can also look forward to the final test of the year, a showdown between New Zealand and South Africa in Baltimore, USA, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action from 10 pm on Saturday. The inclusion of Itoje adds a familiar voice and leadership to a squad that is blending experience with emerging talent. Lawes and Marchand’s pending return underscores Borthwick’s cautious approach to squad selection, ensuring that players are match‑fit and fully integrated into the Premiership rhythm before committing them to the international stage.
The expanded roster, featuring both seasoned campaigners and promising newcomers, reflects England’s strategy of depth and flexibility as they prepare for a demanding series of tests against some of the world’s strongest rugby nations.