“Blacklisted” – England star reveals Steve Borthwick phone call that ended his international career

Thursday, 13 August 2026 at 09:32

bySteven Smith

Steve Borthwick is rapidly shaping the England squad he wants to take to the 2027 Rugby World Cup – and some huge names remain on the outside looking in.

The England boss offered another major clue this week when he confirmed his latest group of 25 enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts.

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Tom Willis, Ben Curry, Tom Roebuck, Elliot Daly and Ollie Lawrence have all lost their deals, with Alex Coles, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Jack van Poortvliet and Seb Atkinson coming into the group.

However, losing a central contract does not necessarily mean an England career is over. The World Cup squad will contain 33 players, leaving opportunities for those outside Borthwick's core group.

Others face a considerably tougher route back.

From players effectively frozen out following conversations with Borthwick to stars unavailable because they play overseas, England could put together an impressive group from those currently outside the head coach's plans.

Here are some of the biggest names.

Tom Willis – England career ended by a phone call

Few players have fallen out of England's plans quite as dramatically as Tom Willis.

The powerful number eight had established himself as a major part of Borthwick's side and was handed an enhanced RFU contract, but everything changed after he agreed to leave Saracens for Bordeaux-Bègles.

Willis personally called Borthwick shortly before an England squad announcement to tell him about his decision to move to France – a conversation which reportedly stunned the England head coach.

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The consequences were immediate.

Despite remaining eligible while completing his time with Saracens, Willis subsequently disappeared from Borthwick's plans. His move to Bordeaux will make him unavailable under the RFU's overseas selection policy.

Now the final link has effectively been cut.

Willis was one of the five players removed from England's enhanced contract group this week as Borthwick continues building towards Australia.

Unless England's eligibility rules change, the 27-year-old's Test career appears to have been brought to a premature halt.

Jack Willis – One of England's best players can't be picked

Tom isn't the only Willis unavailable to Borthwick.

Older brother Jack has established himself as one of Europe's outstanding back-row forwards since joining Toulouse following the collapse of Wasps.

His performances in France have been exceptional, including being named Top 14 Player of the Season, but England's overseas selection policy continues to keep him out of the international picture.

There remains one intriguing potential route back.

Willis is contracted to Toulouse until 2029, but his deal reportedly contains a break clause which could potentially facilitate a return to the PREM in time to become eligible for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Whether that happens remains to be seen.

As things stand, however, one of the best English flankers in the game cannot be selected by England.

Ollie Hassell-Collins – Blacklisted?

Unlike the Willis brothers, Ollie Hassell-Collins has no eligibility problem whatsoever.

He's playing in England. He's available. He's performing.

Borthwick simply hasn't picked him.

The Leicester Tigers winger won two caps during Borthwick's first Six Nations campaign in charge in 2023 but has subsequently disappeared from the senior international picture.

Hassell-Collins was released from Borthwick's initial 2023 World Cup training squad and has never managed to force his way back.

That's despite continuing to produce at club level and earning opportunities with England A.

There has never been any suggestion from Borthwick that Hassell-Collins is literally blacklisted, but his continued absence despite being fully available has made him one of England's most notable forgotten men.

With Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and a growing crop of younger backs competing for places, his route back into the squad appears increasingly difficult.

Kyle Sinckler – Borthwick wants him back?

Kyle Sinckler is perhaps the most fascinating name on the list.

The British & Irish Lions prop has been unavailable to England since moving from Bristol Bears to Toulon in 2024, with the RFU's overseas policy keeping the experienced tighthead out of Borthwick's squads.

But the door may not be closed.

Borthwick was recently spotted in Toulon, fuelling speculation that the England boss could be exploring a route to bring Sinckler back into his squad ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

For Sinckler to become available under the existing rules, he would need to return to an English club.

It would be a remarkable international comeback.

Sinckler has vast Test experience and has already represented England at two World Cups as well as touring twice with the British & Irish Lions.

With tighthead depth likely to be crucial in a 33-man World Cup squad, Borthwick's trip to Toulon will only increase speculation that the 69-cap prop still features in his thinking.

Of all England's overseas stars, Sinckler may now have one of the clearest potential routes back.

Lewis Ludlam – Overseas

Another former England regular currently locked out is Lewis Ludlam.

The back-rower played an important role during the 2023 Rugby World Cup before leaving Northampton Saints to join Toulon alongside Sinckler.

That move subsequently made him unavailable for England under the RFU's overseas policy.

Ludlam was a regular under both Eddie Jones and Borthwick and has 25 England caps, but competition in the back row has moved on significantly during his absence.

Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Henry Pollock, Guy Pepper and a host of emerging options mean there is now enormous competition.

Even if Ludlam returned to England, forcing his way back into Borthwick's plans would be no guarantee.

The World Cup door isn't completely closed

Borthwick's latest contract decisions provide the clearest indication yet of the players he currently considers the core of his 2027 plans.

But they aren't his final World Cup squad.

England will take 33 players to Australia, meaning eight members of that squad could theoretically come from outside the current enhanced-contract group.

For Hassell-Collins, the challenge is convincing Borthwick he deserves another opportunity.

For Jack Willis, Tom Willis and Ludlam, the problem is eligibility.

And then there's Sinckler.

Borthwick's recent appearance in Toulon has added another fascinating subplot to England's World Cup preparations – and suggests at least one of his exiled stars might not be finished just yet.