Benhard Janse van Rensburg named in England training camp

Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Charlie Bracken and Archie McParland have been included in England’s training camp ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship, with Steve Borthwick using the gathering to assess fresh options before the summer schedule begins.

Van Rensburg is the standout inclusion, with the Bristol Bears centre moving closer to England eligibility as the national side looks toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Benhard Janse van Rensburg In England Training Squad

Van Rensburg will complete his five-year residency qualification on 8 July, four days after England’s opening Nations Championship fixture against South Africa.

That means he cannot feature in the first match, but he could come into contention for the later summer games. The Pretoria-born midfielder is viewed as a serious option in the centre as England continue planning for the next World Cup cycle.

His eligibility has drawn attention because he previously made one substitute appearance for South Africa Under-20s in 2016, but he is now on course to become available for England selection.

Charlie Bracken And Archie McParland Earn Call-Ups

Bracken and McParland have both been brought into camp for the first time, giving England two more young options at scrum-half.

The camp is being held at Pennyhill Park as England prepare for summer fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina. The wider group also includes a return for George Martin after a long injury absence, while some established names have been left out as England reshapes its squad following a disappointing Six Nations campaign.

England training squad:

Forwards: Jamie Blamire (Leicester), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Arthur Clark (Gloucester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton), George Martin (Leicester), Beno Obano (Bath), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Guy Pepper (Bath), Henry Pollock (Northampton), Vilikesa Sela (Bath), Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath).

Backs: Seb Atkinson (Gloucester), Charlie Bracken (Saracens), Noah Caluori (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter), George Ford (Sale), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), George Furbank (Northampton), Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol), Archie McParland (Northampton), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Adam Radwan (Leicester), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Fin Smith (Northampton), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester).