"A New Era" - Predicting Steve Borthwick's England Squad for the 2024 Six Nations
Rugby NewsThursday, 11 January 2024 at 11:35
We are now under one month away from the start of the 2024 Six Nations, and England head coach Steve Borthwick has some tough decisions to make. Borthwick is set to name his squad for the tournament on January 17th, with regional pre-competition camps currently taking place across the country.
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It's the dawn of a new era of England rugby, as the side enters the next Rugby World Cup cycle ahead of Australia in 2027.
Last year, the Bronze Medal Final in France marked the end of the England journeys for three of the nations' stalwarts, as Ben Youngs, Courtney Lawes and Jonny May all hung up their test match boots after returning from Paris.
Courtney Lawes, Captain of England celebrates after winning during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
The international exits did not stop there, as numerous stars of England's Rugby World Cup campaign agreed moves overseas and ended their run in the red rose for the forseeable future. Joe Marchant, Henry Arundell and David Ribbans have all signed new contracts in France, with Jack Willis now also out of the fray after extending his tenure with Toulouse.
Former captain Owen Farrell shocked the rugby world by confirming his step down from the England team, with Borthwick now having to pass the armband on to a new player for the 2024 Six Nations. And to make the run-up to the competition all the more challenging, the England coaching staff will have to factor in the recent injuries to centre Manu Tuilagi and prop Joe Marler, in their selections.
Steve Borthwick, Head Coach of England Rugby during the England Rugby Captains Run ahead of the Six Nations Match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium, London on 24 Feb 2023 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
So, with such a changing landscape in the England squad we decided to have a go at predicting who Borthwick will name on his squad list. We have opted for a 36-man squad, to match the same numbers from the 2023 Six Nations when Borthwick first took over the helm. Here is RUCK's predictions for the England squad, for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.
PROPS
Ellis Genge of England during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
3. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
4. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
5. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
6. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
HOOKERS
Jamie George of England during the Six Nations Match between England and Italy at Twickenham, London on 12 Feb 2023 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
7. Jamie George (Saracens) (Captain)
8. Theo Dan (Saracens)
9. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
LOCKS
10. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
11. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
12. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
13. Rus Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
BACK ROW
14. Ben Earl (Saracens)
15. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
16. Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
17. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
18. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
19. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
UTILITY FORWARD
George Martin of England (Leicester Tigers) skips the tackle of Zach Mercer of England (Montpellier Hrault Rugby) during the an England Rugby Training session at the Brighton College, Sussex on the 19th June 2023 - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
20. George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
SCRUM HALVES
Alex Mitchell of Northampton Saints during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Harlequins and Northampton Saints at Twickenham Stadium on 27 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
22. Danny Care (Harlequins)
23. Gus Warr (Sale Sharks)
FLY HALVES
George Ford of England during the England Rugby Training Sessions at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 8 August 2023 (Photo: George Beck/PPAUK)
24. George Ford (Sale Sharks)
25. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
26. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
CENTRES
Henry Slade of England during the England Rugby Training Sessions at The Lensbury Hotel, Teddington, London on 26 Jun 2023 (Photo: George Beck/PPAUK)
27. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
28. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
29. Will Joseph (Harlequins)
30. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)
BACK THREE
Ollie Sleightholme of Northampton Saints during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Semi Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 11 June. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
31. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
32. Elliot Daly (Saracens)
33. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
34. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
35. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
UTILITY BACK
Tommy Freeman of England during the England Rugby Training camp at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre, Pennyhill Park on 30 Jan. 2023 Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
36. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
INJURY REHAB
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
STAND-BYE PLAYERS (INJURY RESERVE)
Val Rapava-Ruskin of Gloucester Rugby before the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Saracens and Gloucester Rugby at Stonex Stadium on 24 September. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
Loose-head Prop: Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby)
Tight-head Prop: Asher Opuku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Hooker: Jack Walker (Harlequins)
Lock: Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Back Row: Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Harry Randall of England stands with Sam Underhill of England during the International match between England and USA at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on July 4 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Scrum Half: Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Fly Half: Manu Vunipola (Saracens)
Centre: Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
Back Three: Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)
Back Three: Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby)
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