England Rugby Names Training Squad Ahead of Australia Clash

England rugby head coach Steve Borthwick has named a 36-player training squad as preparations begin for the November 2026 Nations Championship. The team is scheduled to open its autumn campaign against Australia on Sunday, November 8, at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London, before proceeding to face Japan and New Zealand later in the month.

The training group, which assembled at Pennyhill Park, features 20 forwards and 16 backs. Maro Itoje returns to the national setup to captain the team, while Joe Marchant is back in contention for an international appearance after moving to Sale Sharks. Northampton Saints supplies the largest club contingent in the squad with eight players, followed by Sale Sharks with six and Saracens with five.

A notable late change to the roster involved Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith, who sustained a calf injury. Gloucester fly-half Charlie Atkinson was called up as a replacement on October 26, while Smith remained with the England camp to undergo rehabilitation. Other players currently assigned to rehabilitation include Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and Guy Pepper.

Heading into the November window, England sits third in the Northern Hemisphere standings with 10 championship points, trailing France with 12 points and Scotland with 11. Borthwick's squad enters the upcoming international window aiming to secure victories that could propel them toward the inaugural Nations Championship Grand Final scheduled for late November.

While the official matchday 23 has not yet been finalized by the coaching staff, predicted lineups suggest a strong starting XV. Experienced figures such as Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Ben Earl, and George Ford are anticipated to play key roles alongside emerging talents like Henry Pollock. The match against Australia will serve as a crucial test for England's tactical approach and squad depth under Borthwick.

American rugby fans seeking to watch the fixtures can access live coverage and scheduling details through RugbyPass TV, which holds the United States streaming rights for the Nations Championship. Additionally, fans can follow the year-round domestic performances of England's international stars across various professional club competitions on FloRugby.