With just ten days to go before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, England continues to suffer from a growing list of absentees. Following the withdrawals of Feyi-Waboso and Sam Underhill, five more players—some of them key starters—have now been ruled out of the tournament.
A String of Injuries Hits England’s Squad
The confirmed absences of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, sidelined with a shoulder injury, and Sam Underhill, out with an ankle problem, were already a major blow for England head coach Steve Borthwick. However, this week has only made matters worse. The final round of the Champions Cup group stage saw five additional England players pick up injuries: Alex Coles, Alex Dombrandt, and Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Jack Van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), and Jamie George (Saracens). The latter, England’s vice-captain and a vastly experienced player, will be an especially significant loss.
Despite his injury, Alex Mitchell will still travel with the squad and continue his rehabilitation within the England camp.
Henry Pollock Gets the Nod
To replace the five injured players, England’s coaching staff has called up Bath’s Ben Spencer, Sale Sharks’ Raffi Quirke, Gloucester’s Arthur Clark, as well as Northampton Saints duo Curtis Langdon and Henry Pollock. The latter’s initial omission from the squad had already raised some eyebrows, and his selection now offers him a chance to prove his worth.
Updated England Squad for the 2025 Six Nations
Forwards:
- Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps)
- Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
- Arthur Clark (Gloucester, 0 caps) – replaces Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
- Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps)
- Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
- Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
- Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps)
- Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 0 caps) – replaces Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 20 caps)
- Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)
- Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain
- Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints, 2 caps) – replaces Jamie George (Saracens, 97 caps) – vice-captain
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
- Ted Hill (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)
- Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
- George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
- Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
- Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 7 caps)
- Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
- Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)
Backs:
- Oscar Beard (Harlequins, 0 caps)
- Elliot Daly (Saracens, 69 caps)
- Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
- George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps)
- Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
- Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)
- Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 0 caps) – replaces Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
- Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 0 caps)
- Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)
- Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
- Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)
- Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
- Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
- Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)
- Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)
- Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 8 caps) – replaces Jack Van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
