England A squad named for clash with All Blacks XV

Head coach Mark Mapletoft has announced the matchday squad for their upcoming fixture against the All Blacks XV to be played at The Recreation Ground, Bath, on Saturday 8 November.

Ethan Roots will captain the side after Joe Batley steps aside due to a personal matter. Max Ojomoh has been named vice-captain on home turf.

New faces in the match-week setup include Fitz Harding, Kepu Tuipulotu, Vilikesa Sela, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Adam Radwan, all poised to make their England A debuts.

The coaching group, which includes Mapletoft, senior men’s head coach Steve Borthwick and RFU performance director Conor O’Shea, emphasised the fixture’s role in bridging age-grade talents to senior honours.

The majority of the squad is home-grown through the men’s player pathway and age-grade systems.

Mapletoft said: “Our aim is to create an environment where players can learn to win… This All Blacks XV side will test our players in a high-pressure international arena.”

England A: England A: Hodge; Caluori, Hall, Ojomoh (vc), Hassell-Collins; Atkinson, McParland; Iyogun, Blamire, Fasogbon, Lockett, Batley, Roots (c), Pearson, Fisilau

Reserves: Tuipulotu, Haffar, Sela, Bamber, Harding, Englefield, Ma'asi-White, Radwan