England enter 2026 with high expectations and plenty of opportunity to maintain their upward trajectory under Steve Borthwick.
Their year begins with a Six Nations campaign in which they lead the charge to topple reigning champions France, who they will face in the final of the tournament in Paris on March 14.
Arriving at the Stade de France with a first Grand Slam in a decade feels like a steadily increasing minimum requirement for an England team.
After all, they boast an 11-game winning streak stretching back to last season’s Six Nations, including a standout win over New Zealand.
But if these ambitions are to be realized, a new set of challenges must be overcome. It will provide a test against which Borthwick’s latest progress can be measured and a snapshot of the state of English rugby a year after the Rugby World Cup.
An untimely front-row injury crisis ended the tournament for stalwarts Will Stewart (Achilles) and Asher Opoku-Podjur (shoulder) before it even began, while loose-headed Fin Baxter’s participation remains unbalanced after calf surgery.
As a result, the depth of strength Borthwick has built over the past 12 months will come under immediate scrutiny, but it is a challenge he has no choice but to accept.
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England manager Steve Borthwick says his side are ready to ‘attack’ the Six Nations, despite highlighting the disruption caused by injuries to England props.
“We’ve had a few crashes due to unusable props, but the idea is that it creates opportunities for others,” he said. Sky Sports.
“We have planned out a depth chart, our scrum coach Tom Harrison is very focused on the front line forwards and he has been very clear about who the next man is.
“So we didn’t necessarily want that kind of disruption and change with new players, but we’re prepared for that as well.”
The misfortune of Stuart, Opoku‑Fordjour and Baxter is an opportunity for Vilikesa ‘Billy’ Sela, Emmanuel Iyogun and Greg Fisilau.
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Steve Borthwick has called up Greg Fisilau, Vilikesa Sela and Emmanuel Iyogun to join his 36-man England Six Nations squad.
The uncapped trio – Bath’s 20-year-old prop Sela, Northampton loosehead Iyogun and Exeter No. 8 Fisilau – have been drafted in as reinforcements, giving them a chance to put themselves firmly on the radar with the World Cup still a year away.
The way they adapt, or not, to the pressure of the Test pitch adds another fascinating dimension to England’s campaign. Will you sink or will you seize the moment and swim? Time will tell, and England’s title ambitions will depend on the result.
2026 Six Nations England squad
Steve Borthwick has named three uncapped players as part of England’s Six Nations squad – Greg Fisilau, Vilikesa Sela and Emmanuel Iyogun.
transmission: Ollie Chessom (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clarke (Gloucester), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Currie (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davidson (Northampton), Ben Earl (Sarace), Greg Pisilau (Exeter). Chiefs), Ellis Genji (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Sarace), Joe Hayes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Sarace), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rhodes (Sale Sharks), Billikesa Sella (Bath Rugby) Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
back: Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Emmanuel Pay-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Alex Mitchell (Northampton) Saints), Cardan Murli (Harlequins), Max Ozomo (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Putvliet (Leicester Tigers)
England’s 2026 Six Nations fixtures
- February 7: Wales (h)
- February 14: Scotland (a)
- February 21st: Ireland (h)
- March 7: Italy (a)
- March 14: France (a)
