England enter 2026 with high expectations and the ability to maintain their upward trajectory under Steve Borthwick.
Their year begins with a Six Nations campaign in which they lead the fight to dethrone champions France, who they face in the tournament final in Paris on March 14.
Arriving at the Stade de France with a first Grand Slam in a decade still on the table seems like the minimum requirement for an ever-rising England side.
After all, they boast an 11-match winning streak stretching back to last season’s Six Nations, a series that included a remarkable victory over New Zealand.
However, to realize those ambitions, a new set of challenges must be overcome – tests that will offer the latest measure of progress under Borthwick and a snapshot of the state of English rugby a year on from the Rugby World Cup.
An untimely front-row injury crisis has ended the tournaments of stalwarts Will Stewart (Achilles) and Asher Opoku-Fordjur (shoulder) before they even started, while slacker Finn Baxter’s participation hangs in the balance after calf surgery.
As a result, the strength in depth that Borthwick has cultivated over the past 12 months faces immediate and probing scrutiny, but it is a challenge he has no choice but to accept.
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England coach Steve Borthwick highlights the disruption caused by injuries to England props but says his side are ready to “attack” the Six Nations.
“We’ve had a few issues with props being unavailable, but what it does is it creates opportunity for others,” he said Ski Sports.
“We had the depth charts planned out. Our scrum coach Tom Harrison focuses a lot on those forwards in the front row, and he was really clear about who the next player was.
“While we didn’t necessarily want that disruption and having to change things with new players, we’re also prepared for that.”
Stewart, Opoku‑Fordjour and Baxter’s accident is the occasion of Vilikese ‘Billy’ Sel, Emmanuel Iiogun and Greg Fisilau.
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Steve Borthwick has called up Greg Fisilau, Willikesa Sela and Emmanuel Ayogun to join his 36-man England Six Nations squad.
The uncapped trio – Bath’s 20-year-old prop Sela, Northampton loosehead Iogun and Exeter number eight Fisilau – were called up as reinforcements, offering a chance to put themselves firmly on the radar a year after the World Cup.
How they adapt – or not – to the pressure of the Test arena adds another fascinating dimension to England’s campaign. Will it sink, or seize the moment and swim? Time will tell and England’s title aspirations could hinge on the outcome.
England Six Nations 2026
Steve Borthwick has named a trio of uncapped players in Greg Fisilau, Wilkes Sella and Emmanuel Ayogun as part of his England Six Nations squad.
Forwards: Ollie Chesum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clarke (Gloucester), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Cyle Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Cyle Irish), Theo Dunn (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northamptons), A.J. (Eketer Chiefs), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heies (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Emmanuel Iogun (Northampton Saints), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Sele Shalike Ruth (ViSale Bevan Rhodes), ViSale Shahil Rug Ander (ViSale Bevan Rhodes). (bath rugby)
backs: Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feiyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furth Bank (Northampton Saints), George Furth (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
England Six Nations 2026
- February 7: Wales (h)
- February 14: Scotland (a)
- February 21: Ireland (h)
- March 7: Italy (a)
- March 14: France (a)