Steve Borthwick confirms England captain and vice-captains for Rugby World Cup

The decision that was surprisingly unveiled by Steve Borthwick on Friday morning, well in advance of the tournament's commencement, which is still over two months away.

In addition, Ellis Genge and Courtney Lawes have been appointed as vice captains, signifying their significant roles within the team as they intensify their preparations for a series of warm-up matches scheduled for August.

Borthwick said: "I went and met Owen about 10 days ago. We spent two hours walking through fields outside Harpenden, talking about everything we wanted to do with this team. He’s a fantastic leader."

You can the full training squad Borthwick picked this morning bu clicking here.

The England head coach will name his 33-player squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup on August 7. There are no further trims until then.

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After making a return to the Premiership with Gloucester from Montpellier, there were high expectations for Mercer's potential comeback to the England team. However, the decision to exclude Zach and opt for the inexperienced yet powerful Tom Willis surely comes as a significant blow to the former Bath number 8.

A number of fans couldn't understand the decision with one writing: "On what planet is Dommers a better player? I just do not get it."

A second commented: "Bet Zach Mercer is chuffed. Told to come home by Eddie Jones and when he does his replacement Steve Borthwick dumps him."

Another said: "Sometimes it’s hard to get a grasp of who is missing etc in a big squad like that at first. But just seen Zach Mercer is out…..I can’t fathom this

In a shocking turn of events, Northampton's talented playmaker Mitchell has been omitted from the squad, despite making a series of impressive appearances for England during the 2023 Six Nations. Not only did Mitchell showcase his skills on the international stage, but he also proved to be one of the most consistent performers for the Saints. The decision to exclude him has undoubtedly raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.

The immensely skilled fly-half was inevitably deemed a casualty as Owen Farrell and George Ford were summoned back into action following their captivating clash in the Premiership final.

Rumoured to be signing with Sale Sharks, the former Exeter hooker has been unable to recover from injury in time to put himself in contention for the squad.

On Cowan-Dickie's absence from the squad, Borthwick added: "Despite all his incredible work and progress, Luke’s shoulder has not improved sufficiently for him to be considered for selection for the World Cup. We wish him a swift recovery and hope to see him back playing very soon."