Maro Itoje has secured a place in England’s first senior group assembled since the summer tour, yet both Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant will need to demonstrate their form for Sale before they can be considered for a recall. Itoje, who was rested for the Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, is now part of a 36‑man training panel that will kick off its autumn preparations with a three‑day camp beginning on Sunday. The Saracens lock is expected to resume his captaincy duties for the opening test against Australia at Allianz Stadium on 8 November, taking over the armband from Jamie George, who stepped in as stand‑in captain during the July series. Itoje’s inclusion signals the coaching staff’s confidence in his leadership and physical readiness after a brief period of rest.
Lawes and Marchant have become eligible for selection again after returning from their respective stints in France with Brive and Stade Français. Their moves across the Channel temporarily paused their international careers, and head coach Steve Borthwick is reportedly waiting to see how they reintegrate into the Gallagher Premiership before making any decisions about their involvement in upcoming squads. Both players were members of the 2023 Rugby World Cup squad, and Lawes in particular is under close scrutiny because of the wealth of experience and leadership he could provide to an England side that is actively seeking to bolster those qualities.
In addition to the returning veterans, the squad also features the highly‑rated prop Fin Baxter, who is back after a string of foot injuries kept him sidelined since December. Young talents such as Archie McParland and Kepueli Tuipulotu have also earned places in the group. McParland, a scrum‑half, was originally slated to join the summer tour, but a severe leg wound suffered during Northampton’s Premiership final win over Exeter forced him out of that plan.
His inclusion 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 selection landscape. Max Ojomoh (calf) and Noah Clauori (wrist) remain unavailable, while Tom Roebuck’s commitment to Sale on Sunday prevents him from participating in the camp.
Both George and Ollie Chessum have joined the England set‑up but are receiving treatment for groin and foot issues respectively, meaning their immediate contributions are limited. The forward pack listed for the training squad 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, Twickenham, on Sunday 8 November for the fourth round of the Nations Championship. Following that encounter, the English side is slated to face Japan and then the All Blacks in the concluding fixtures of the series.
Fans can also tune in to watch the 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. This match marks the culmination of the international window and offers a preview of the high‑intensity rugby that England will aim to match in the weeks ahead. Overall, the squad’s composition reflects a blend of seasoned campaigners returning from overseas, emerging domestic talent, and players who have overcome recent injuries.
Borthwick’s challenge will be to integrate these varied elements into a cohesive unit capable of competing against the world’s best, while also providing a platform for Lawes and Marchant to prove they still belong in the England setup once they have re‑established themselves in the Premiership.