England rugby head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-man squad for preparations ahead of the autumn internationals against Australia, Japan and New Zealand. England play Australia on 8 November, Japan on 14 November, and New Zealand on 21 November.
Joe Marchant and Will Joseph have been recalled to the squad, while the list of 36 names also includes two uncapped players — Archie McParland as a third scrum-half and Kepu Tuipulotu as a third hooker. Marchant and Joseph are competing for the number 13 shirt, as well as a potential place in the World Cup squad.
Former England winger Chris Ashton said on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast that the squad was not selected based on form. "Will Joseph was selected on the basis of form," Ashton said, adding that "the vast majority of the team was not selected on the basis of form." According to him, selection is based on experience and the relationships Borthwick has with the players, "which is why Marchant is in".
Ashton highlighted that Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Will Stuart, George Furbank and Ben Curry have had insufficient minutes or form this season. "Steve feels under pressure to deliver results, so it is too late for major changes," Ashton said, adding that "there are simply not many lads who have played a lot of rugby".
Benhard Janse van Rensburg is out of the squad, while Seb Atkinson and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso are on the rehabilitation list. Fin Smith will miss this week's training due to a minor ankle injury, but it is not considered serious. Charlie Atkinson was called up on Monday morning.
The team that will play if fit includes Ellis Genge, George, Cowan-Dickie, Joe Heyes, Will Stuart, Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ben Earl, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock. Atkinson and Henry Slade started the last England test, the win over Argentina in July, and could play together again against the Wallabies on 8 November.
Ugo Monye assessed that Marchant and Joseph are "in a sort of duel" and that both can do the job on the wing. "When you look at the World Cup squad, you look at versatility," Monye said, adding that he would like to see bold decisions. "Will Joseph has been excellent." Monye also expressed surprise at the omission of Sale's Nathan Jibulua, who had two man of the match awards, and Northampton's George Hendy. "If we are talking about form, where is Fitz Harding," Monye asked.
The players will remain in camp until Tuesday evening, after which they return to their clubs for another round of league matches. England will reconvene the following Sunday, seven days before the clash with Australia. Twelve months ago, England were on a winning streak and entered the autumn series full of confidence, while in 2026 they have only three wins in eight matches. There are only nine competitive matches left for home teams before the start of the World Cup in Australia next October, and the inaugural Nations Championship continues in November.
