Steve Borthwick unveils 36-man England training squad

England head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-man training squad for a four-day camp as preparations begin for a busy summer schedule, including a match against France XV at Twickenham and an upcoming tour to Argentina and the USA.

The squad features a striking blend of youth and experience, with 16 uncapped players earning call-ups in what appears to be a strategic overhaul of England’s developmental pathway.

Among the new faces is 21-year-old Charlie Bracken, son of former England scrum-half Kyran Bracken.

Though yet to start in a Gallagher Premiership match for Saracens, the young scrum-half has impressed off the bench and during his time with Ampthill in the Championship. His selection reflects Borthwick’s willingness to invest in long-term potential over immediate experience.

Borthwick’s inclusions from Northampton Saints highlight the club’s current depth, with names like Fraser Dingwall, Tom Pearson, Tom Lockett, Manny Iyogun, Alex Coles, Curtis Langdon, and Ollie Sleightholme all earning places.

Also joining the camp are George Kloska from Bristol Bears and Will Porter from Harlequins. Chandler Cunningham-South has also been selected after recovering from injury, adding further options in the back row.

The decision to bring in so many uncapped players has been partly shaped by the unavailability of players from Bath and Leicester due to Premiership final obligations, and the exclusion of those selected for the British & Irish Lions tour.

Borthwick has used this as an opportunity to broaden the player pool and fast-track development of future internationals.

Returning to the setup are established players like Jamie George, George Ford, and Henry Slade, while George Furbank rejoins after recovering from injury.

This training camp is not just about short-term fixtures. Borthwick has indicated that performance during this stint will influence the final selection for the summer tour, to be announced on 23 June.

The upcoming match against France XV on 21 June is expected to serve as a key test for the new players under consideration.

England squad:

Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Manny Iyogun (Northampton Saints), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), George Kloska (Bristol Bears), Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints), Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Tom Willis (Saracens)

Backs: Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Charlie Bracken (Saracens), Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Sale Sharks), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Will Porter (Harlequins), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)