Head coach Steve Borthwick has named his England team to play Wales ahead of their first World Cup warm-up in Cardiff this weekend.
Loosehead prop Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) will captain England in the 140th meeting between the two nations as both teams play their first game of the Summer Nations Series ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France which starts in September.
Alongside Genge, hooker Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons) joins tighthead prop Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) to complete the front row.
Elsewhere, David Ribbans (Toulon) partners George Martin (Leicester Tigers) in the second row, with the uncapped Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints) packing down on the openside flank, linking up with Saints teammate Lewis Ludlam who starts on the blindside. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins) rounds off the pack at No.8.
Harlequins duo Danny Care and Marcus Smith feature in the half-back berths, with Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers) partnering Joe Marchant (Stade Francais) in midfield. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) lines up on the left wing, opposite Max Malins (Bristol Bears) on the right, and Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) is at fullback.
Amongst the replacements, Saracens duo Theo Dan and Tom Willis will win their first England caps should they take the field, while Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), George Ford (Sale Sharks) and Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) will all be hoping to make an impact off the bench.
BORTHWICK SAID:
“England versus Wales in Cardiff is always an exciting and keenly contested fixture,” said Borthwick. “I am sure this Saturday will be no different as a tremendous first Test match of the Summer Nations Series.
“We have been impressed with how the whole squad has applied itself both on and off the field over this training camp. We are now looking forward to returning to Test match rugby as we continue our preparations for the Rugby World Cup in France.”
Saturday’s clash against Wales is England’s first of four Summer Nations Series fixtures which will be shown live and exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Wales team to play England:
Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Max Llewellyn, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Corey Domachowski, Ryan Elias, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Jac Morgan (capt), Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Mason Grady.
England team to play Wales:
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
14. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 18 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 15 caps)
12. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 21 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 87 caps)
1. Ellis Genge © (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
2. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
4. David Ribbans (Toulon, 5 caps)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
7. Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Replacements
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, uncapped)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
20. Tom Willis (Saracens, uncapped)
21. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps)
23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 56 caps)
England Rugby stars to be joined by their biggest army of WAGS at France World Cup
Below, you will find a list of the players' partners, along with additional information about each of them:
#1. Beth Dolling (Marcus Smith)
Beth Dolling, whose Instagram handle is @bethdolling, is presently romantically involved with Marcus Smith, the fly-half for Harlequins.
Their relationship began in 2019, but the details of their initial encounter remain undisclosed. Beth is not only a model but also a singer, having participated in various campaigns for renowned brands like PrettyLittleThing, Missy Empire, and Rebellious.
She is affiliated with M Models in Manchester and Body London, showcasing glimpses of her fashion shoots on her Instagram story.
With 34,000 followers on Instagram, Beth keeps her fans engaged with her captivating content.
#2. Hollie Shearer (Joe Marchant)
Joe Marchant, the talented Harlequins centre, is currently involved in a delightful relationship with musician Hollie Shearer. Their love story has blossomed over the course of a year, and they radiate happiness as a couple.
Hollie is not only Joe's partner but also a gifted singer-songwriter with her music available on Spotify. She has captivated audiences with her soulful performances, including a memorable showcase at The Spice of Life. Hollie's talent and dedication have garnered her a strong following, with 68,000 Instagram followers eagerly keeping up with her artistic journey. For those interested, her Instagram handle is @hollieshearer.
#3. Katie George (Jamie George)
Katie George and Jamie George, the Saracens hooker, are happily married. They tied the knot in 2020 after being in a relationship for six years. At their wedding, Jamie's teammate Elliot Daly had the honor of being his best man. Their enduring bond reflects a deep connection and a shared journey of love and commitment.
#4. Megan Ely (Jack Willis)
Willis, the esteemed Toulouse flanker, is in a committed, long-term relationship with his girlfriend Megan. Together, they share the joy of parenthood as proud parents to their son, Enzo, who was born in December 2021. Recently, in a heartwarming Instagram post, Megan expressed her love for their little bundle of joy.
She shared a collection of adorable photos capturing Enzo's playful and spirited nature, while showering him with heartfelt birthday wishes. Megan emphasized that being the parents of such a charismatic and determined little boy is their most significant accomplishment, emphasizing the immense love they have for him.
#5. Alex Vunipola (Mako Vunipola)
ako, the esteemed loosehead prop for the Saracens, has been happily married to his wife Alex for almost two years. They exchanged their vows in August 2021, and their love continues to grow stronger with each passing day.
Mako never misses an opportunity to express his affection for his wife and their beautiful family. Together, they are proud parents to two sons. Their firstborn, Jacob, joined their loving embrace in 2018, filling their lives with immeasurable joy and happiness.
#6. Michelle Daly (Elliot Daly)
Michelle has her own photography studio called Michelle Sylvia Photography. According to her bio, Michelle is a “Hertfordshire based photographer” who recently graduated from the London School of Photography.
#7. Georgie Farrell (Owen Farrell)
Maintaining a remarkably low profile, Owen and Georgie Farrell lead a private life, even though Owen is recognized as one of England's prominent players.
As the captain of Saracens, Owen has garnered much acclaim, yet both he and Georgie choose to keep their personal lives away from the public eye. In the summer of 2018, they exchanged vows and embarked on their journey as a married couple.
The following year, they welcomed their first child into the world, and in 2021, their family grew further with the arrival of their second child. Together, Owen and Georgie cherish their precious moments as they navigate the joys and challenges of parenthood.
#8. Megan Slade (Henry Slade)
Megan Slade, the spouse of Exeter Chiefs' center Henry Slade, has been happily married to him since August 2022. Together, they share the joy of parenthood, as they welcomed their daughter into the world in August 2020. The birth of their little one has brought immense happiness and love into their lives, creating beautiful family moments that they cherish dearly.
Megan also has her own baby and children’s clothing shop called Olive & Bud. The store was set up in England by “two new mums with a need for high-quality yet affordable basics in colour palettes that don’t hurt the eyes.”
#9. Chantelle Garrity (Manu Tuilagi)
Tuilagi, the talented Sale Sharks player, shares a beautiful relationship with Chantelle Garrity. They are blessed with two children, forming a loving and close-knit family.
Recently, on Chantelle's birthday, Manu took to Instagram to express his deep affection and appreciation for her. In a heartfelt post, he declared Chantelle as his absolute world and thanked her for the countless ways she enriches their lives.
Manu emphasized the profound love they share as a family and conveyed their heartfelt wishes, underscoring just how cherished Chantelle is to them.
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