"Finished" - Five players who won't play for England again

Here, we look at five players whose England futures feel more like memories than possibilities in the months and seasons still ahead now.

Tom Willis’ rise over the past two seasons has been one of English rugby’s quiet success stories. After earning his first England minutes in the buildup to the 2023 World Cup, the powerful No. 8 gradually forced his way into Steve Borthwick’s plans, picking up more caps during the 2025 Six Nations and even grabbing his first Test try.

At club level, he blossomed into Saracens’ first-choice No. 8, stepping out of Billy Vunipola’s shadow and becoming a Premiership Player of the Season contender.

Yet, despite that momentum, Willis’ return to France with Bordeaux at the end of the 2024–25 season is likely to slam the international door shut.

Under the RFU’s long-standing policy, overseas-based players remain ineligible, and while Willis is in his late 20s, a multi-year French stint could push him beyond 30 before he qualifies for a recall.

With England’s back-row depth constantly replenishing, he may find the pathway blocked when— or if— he comes home.

Zach Mercer’s England career has long felt like a case of “what might have been.” Once seen as one of the country’s most naturally gifted attacking No. 8s, he produced the best rugby of his career not on home soil, but in France. His spell at Montpellier brought a Top 14 title, a Player of the Year award, and recognition as one of Europe’s most dynamic forwards.

His 2023 return to Gloucester was meant to reignite his England prospects, but the stars never aligned. Mercer remained on the fringes, and by July 2025 he had signed another lucrative French deal—this time with Toulon.

That move all but seals his England fate. With just two caps earned back in 2018 and England unlikely to relax their overseas selection rules any time soon, Mercer seems destined to be remembered as a brilliant club player whose Test career never truly took off.

Few England wings have ever matched Joe Cokanasiga’s blend of size, speed, and raw destructive power. His Test career began explosively in 2018, with tries flowing almost every time he pulled on the white jersey. Even injuries couldn’t fully blunt his impact: 13 tries in 16 Tests tell their own story.

But the gaps between appearances grew longer, most notably after long-term knee problems halted his momentum after the 2019 World Cup.

By the time he returned for the 2021 summer series, England’s wing competition had reached unprecedented levels. Players such as Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and others have since overtaken him in the pecking order.

His last England appearance came in 2023, and while he remains a reliable force for Bath, the national setup has moved on. Given the pace of change and the depth available, a recall now feels highly unlikely.

For more than a decade, Manu Tuilagi embodied the physical edge of England’s midfield. When fit, he was a world-class game-breaker—central to World Cup campaigns, Premiership finals, and countless high-stakes Tests. But 2024 marked the end of an era.

His move to Bayonne placed him outside England’s selection boundaries and, with his body battle-hardened after years of injuries, the likelihood of a return was already slim.

What makes Tuilagi’s situation unique among this list is the possibility of a second international chapter. Born in Samoa and long connected to the nation his brothers represented, he will be eligible to switch under World Rugby’s birthright rule in 2027.

With Samoa having qualified for the next World Cup, a final act in blue rather than white suddenly looks plausible. For England, though, Tuilagi’s remarkable 60-cap career is almost certainly complete.

Nick Isiekwe burst onto the Test scene in 2017–18 as one of English rugby’s brightest young forwards—versatile enough to play lock or blindside, athletic enough to thrive in either role. But after an early run of caps and a starting appearance against South Africa in 2018, his international opportunities dwindled.

Four years passed before his 2022 recall, and while he performed solidly on the tour of Australia, he never truly cemented his place.

Isiekwe has since remained a consistent Premiership performer, but England’s second-row and back-row stocks have arguably never been deeper.

With the emergence of George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, and others, breaking back into the pack looks increasingly unrealistic.

At just 27 he still has time on his side—but time might not be enough. His 15-cap England career, though respectable, may well be complete.

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!