LIST | 5 Things to Know About England Debutant Alex Coles

#1. Where it started

#2. Versatility

#3. Family life

#4. Studying

#5. Keen cricketer

Leaked England XV sees Farrell return as captain and debut for Alex Coles

Back-three:

• 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
• 14. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
• 11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath RFC)

Freddie Steward of England goes over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• In May 2022 Steward was named as the Rugby Players' Association 

  Player's Young player of the year and England men's player of the season

• In April 2017, Nowell was called up for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, becoming the first player to be selected from Exeter Chiefs by the Lions
• Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but before his third birthday, moved to England with his father, Ilaitia, who was in the British Army

Centres:

• 13. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
• 12. Owen Farrell (Saracens)

Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• He was named Manusamoa, after the name of the Samoan national team, Manu Samoa, because his brother Freddie was selected for Samoa at the World Cup in 1991, the year Manu was born
• Farrell celebrates every point he scores by linking his index fingers together to make a 'JJ' sign, the Joining Jack salute, Joining Jack being a charity dedicated to the needs of sufferers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Halfbacks:

• 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
• 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Try Celebrations for Marcus Smith of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• Smith moved to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong at the age of thirteen and subsequently received a sports scholarship to attend Brighton College, where he captained the school's 1st XV
• Youngs has been a Premiership Rugby champion five times, winning in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and in 2022

Front-row:

• 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
• 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
• 3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)

DID YOU KNOW?

• Genge has developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)
• Sinckler has represented England at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, and has been a crucial member of the senior team since 2016

Second-row:

• 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
• 5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks)

Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
• Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.

Back-row:

• 6. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
• 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
• 8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Tom Curry of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

DID YOU KNOW?

• Curry is the twin brother of Sale Sharks flanker Ben Curry, son of Bishop Heber High School Head Teacher David Curry and nephew of former England hooker John Olver
• Coles played rugby as a child at Newmarket and Shelford Rugby Club prior to joining the academy of Northampton Saints at the age of fourteen
• Vunipola was born in Sydney in Australia to Tongan parents, but moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Feʻao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998