There’s no shortage of pressure on the England Six Nations 2026 squad as they head into their fourth round match against Italy. Comprehensive defeats against Scotland and Ireland were definitely not part of the plan, and Steve Borthwick’s team will be desperate to avoid a hat-trick of losses and a first ever defeat to the Azzurri.
The uncapped pair of Bristol Bears prop George Kloska and Harlequins back row Jack Kenningham both come in to the England Six Nations squad to face Italy, as does Sale Sharks scrum-half Raffi Quirke.
The injured Alex Mitchell, Ollie Lawrence and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso all miss out, as do Vilikesa Sela, Max Ojomoh and Greg Fisilau who were all previously part of the squad.
Borthwick usually announces his squad early in the week, so keep an eye on this page to see who’s made the cut for this weekend’s matchday 23.
Italy v England kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 7 March, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and Virgin Media One and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.
England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 3
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Henry Pollock
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Guy Pepper
21. Sam Underhill
22. Jack Van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 2
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl
Replacements (6-2 split):
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Fin Smith
England Six Nations team v Wales – round 1
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (captain)
3. Joe Heyes
4. Alex Coles
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Maro Itoje
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Marcus Smith
England Six Nations squad 2026: the 36 players selected by Steve Borthwick
Forwards (20): Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens, captain), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), George Kloska (Bristol Bears), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs (16): Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
England Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance
- Sat 7 February, England 48 v 7 Wales
- Sat 14 February, Scotland v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 21 February, England v Ireland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 7 March, Italy v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 14 March, France v England (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK
England Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025
Round 1: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Result: Ireland 27-22 England
Starting XV:
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Tom Willis
22. Harry Randall
23. Fin Smith
Round 2: v France (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 26-25 France
Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
Round 3: v Scotland (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 16-15 Scotland
Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
Round 4: v Italy (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 47-24 Italy
Starting XV:
15. Elliot Daly
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (vice-captain)
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
Round 5: v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Result: Wales 14-68 England
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Elliot Daly
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Henry Pollock
21. Tom Willis
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. George Ford
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