England squad: Winners and losers amid Ben Spencer’s ‘massive risk’ while harshly overlooked duo ‘finally’ get their chance
Ben Spencer and Max Ojomoh in action for England.
Following the announcement of Steve Borthwick’s updated training squad ahead of the Nations Championship, here is our take on the key winners and losers.
Winners
Max Ojomoh
Finally. Of course, there is still a week to go until the full squad is named following the PREM final where the likes of Henry Slade and Fraser Dingwall coming into contention, but Ojomoh at least gets a chance to prove himself.
With just three centres in the squad for the clash against France A, the Bath star should get some game time on Friday and, if he performs well, that will give Steve Borthwick food for thought. The head coach has surprisingly sidelined the 25-year-old since his man of the match display against Argentina last November, but this is a boost for his supporters.
Jamie Blamire and Theo Dan
Luke Cowan-Dickie is still nursing an injury while Curtis Langdon could bolster his chances with a stellar display in the PREM final, but these two have fended off stern competition to get into the updated squad.
Both have earned England caps in the past but their form suffered a drop-off, which led to Cowan-Dickie and Jamie George dovetailing in the matchday 23. However, Blamire in particular has been exceptional recently, playing a key role in Leicester’s run to the domestic semi-finals and deserves his recall.
Alex Dombrandt
Could have made way in the updated squad and could well not tour when the final group is named, with Henry Pollock a guaranteed selection providing there are no injury issues and Greg Fisilau playing exceptional rugby, but for now Dombrandt offers that slightly different option at number eight.
Ben Earl, Pollock and even Fisilau are slightly smaller players at the base, who rely more on footwork and athleticism in the carry, while Dombrandt is a much larger unit and therefore offers something else in that position.
Ted Hill
Another player that fits into the Ojomoh category as someone who has been incredibly unfortunate to miss out. Hill will have to work hard to be named in the final squad, but this is a step in the right direction and the game this week gives him an opportunity to impress. Hopefully he takes it.
Archie van der Flier
A familiar name, particularly to those in Ireland, and yes he is related to Josh. He is his cousin to be precise and therefore Irish-qualified, so Borthwick moved quickly to tie him down to England, with Van der Flier playing for the ‘A’ team in February.
He now moves up to the full squad after continuing to shine for the Tigers domestically and has a shot of going on tour in July when the Red Rose face the Springboks, Fiji and Argentina.
George Kloska
With Joe Heyes and Vilikesa Sela coming in after the defeats for Leicester and Bath, Kloska was at risk of dropping out, but the head coach has been impressed enough to keep him around. It means there are four tightheads in the 33 but, with Trevor Davison currently injured, and no one from Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs set to come into contention next week, he has a chance to tour.
Noah Caluori
Borthwick doesn’t particularly care for balance when it comes to out wide with Caluori one of three right wings in the squad. When you add in Tommy Freeman and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso next week, who also prefer that slot, it is a congested area, but it seems like the head coach wants to keep the youngster around.
It would be a surprise should he feature against the Springboks, and at the moment the World Rugby U20 Championship might be a better option for the 19-year-old this summer, but Caluori already has the skills to thrive at Test level.
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Losers
Alfie Barbeary
It is not necessarily a shock to see Barbeary not included, given that Borthwick has never especially taken a shine to the Bath number eight, but his form very much merited inclusion this time around. He has been outstanding for the West Country this season and, with Tom Willis heading to France, offers that big ball-carrying option at number eight but, as mentioned, Dombrandt has got that spot over the 25-year-old.
Ben Spencer
The most notable name not on the list, but the suggestions are that he is being rested ahead of a big campaign in 2026/27. Spencer must therefore have been given assurances that he is a certainty for the 23 next season as he has only nailed down his spot over the past 12 months after years of being on the fringes.
Even if Borthwick has provided those guarantees, it is still a massive risk for Spencer. Naturally, other players will have a chance to star for England in the Nations Championship, while there are some incredibly talented young scrum-halves who are coming through the system that could put pressure on in World Cup year.
Kepu Tuipulotu
A name we very much expected to see in the 33 after an excellent season for Bath, but Borthwick evidently feels that he is still a bit too raw for Test rugby at the moment. Tuipulotu is an immense talent who could help solve what may be a problem position post-2027, for now he has to bide his time.
Ollie Lawrence
Has gone from guaranteed starter to not even being in the wider training squad in the space of just a few months. It has been a stark decline for the 26-year-old, whose form quite frankly has not been good enough for Bath since the start of the year.
Henry Arundell and Ollie Hassell-Collins
We mentioned about the number of right wings and these two left-sided players have paid the price for the amount of quality in that position. Cadan Murley, who did well in the Six Nations, has kept his place and Arundell has followed Lawrence in being ousted from the training squad.
His weaker aerial skills, as well as concerns around his defence, has cost him his place in the 33. Hassell-Collins is better under the high ball and has shone for Leicester this season, but Borthwick has not gone near him at Test level since giving him two games in the 2023 Six Nations.
Billy Searle
Another player whose form merited a call-up, but England are stacked at fly-half. George Ford and Marcus Smith are already involved, while Fin Smith will be added next following the PREM final, but there was still space for another player this week.
However, the head coach has opted for Gloucester’s Charlie Atkinson, who the set-up have invested plenty of time in over the past couple of years. Atkinson has been on the fringes of the squad for a while having made his Test debut against the USA in 2025 and played in several ‘A’ matches, which means Searle’s form has not been rewarded.
Dropped quintet
Ahead of the PREM semi-finals, a squad of 26 was selected, which gave the head coach scope to add a few while keeping the core of that group together, but inevitably a few were going to be axed. Three of those came in the front-row with Will Hobson, Nathan Jibulu and Afolabi Fasogbon dropped, while Tobias Elliott and Ben Redshaw have also been omitted.