Maro Itoje has secured a place in England’s first senior roster since the summer tour, but his teammates Courtney Lawes and Joe Marchant will need to demonstrate their form at Sale before they can hope for a recall. Itoje, who was rested for the recent Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, is now listed in a 36‑man training group that will commence a three‑day camp on Sunday as the team prepares for the autumn internationals. 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 covered the role during the July matches.
Itoje’s inclusion signals the coaching staff’s confidence in his leadership and on‑field impact after a brief hiatus. Lawes and Marchant have become eligible for selection again after returning from their stints with French clubs Brive and Stade Français respectively. Both players moved across the Channel after the 2023 World Cup, which temporarily paused their England careers. Head coach Steve Borthwick, however, has indicated that he wants to assess how quickly they can reintegrate into the Gallagher Premiership before deciding whether to bring them back into the national set‑up.
The two veterans were part of the World Cup squad, and Lawes in particular is under close scrutiny because of the experience and leadership qualities he could add to an England side that is still seeking consistency at the back row. If they can prove their fitness and form in the domestic league, a return to the England squad could be on the horizon. Among the forwards, highly‑rated prop Fin Baxter is back after a series of foot injuries kept him sidelined since December.
Exciting newcomers Archie McParland and Kepueli Tuipulotu have also earned places in the training group. McParland, a scrum‑half, appeared destined for the summer tour until a serious leg wound suffered in Northampton’s Premiership final win over Exeter ruled him out, making his inclusion here a chance for redemption.
The coaching staff has also noted that Alex Mitchell (hamstring) and Ben Spencer (shoulder) remain the more established options at half‑back, but both are currently rehabbing with their clubs. This situation gives McParland a valuable window to impress Borthwick and stake a claim for future selection. Injuries continue to affect squad depth: Max Ojomoh is out with a calf problem, Noah Clauori is sidelined by a wrist injury, and Tom Roebuck’s commitment to Sale on Sunday prevents his participation in the camp. Additionally, Jamie George and Ollie Chessum have joined the England group but are receiving treatment for groin and foot issues respectively, meaning they may not be match‑ready immediately.
The forward list for the training 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 back‑line 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, for the fourth round of the Nations Championship. The match will be followed by fixtures against Japan and New Zealand later in the series, providing a crucial platform for the coaching staff to evaluate the depth and versatility of the squad.
Fans can also tune in to watch the final test of the New Zealand versus South Africa series, which will be broadcast live from Baltimore, USA, on Sky Sports Action at 10 pm on Saturday. This international showcase adds to the excitement surrounding the autumn window and offers a broader context for England’s preparations as they aim to build momentum heading into the next World Cup cycle.