England 50-cap veteran gets the axe in Steve Borthwick’s World Cup squad
England head coach Steve Borthwick announced his 33-man squad for the World Cup today, and there are a number of experienced omissions.
Exeter Chiefs centre Henry Slade headlines the list of big-name omissions, as Borthwick has opted for Manu Tuilagi, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly and Joe Marchant as his centres.
Just two years after being selected for the British & Irish Lions, lock Jonny Hill is one of the shock absentees in the pack, with Jamie Blamire, Alex Dombrandt, Tom Pearson and Tom Willis also missing out.
The other back line omissions are Joe Cokanasiga, Jonny May and Guy Porter, with Cokanasiga and Porter both playing in England’s dismal loss to Wales at the weekend.
“Rugby World Cups involve unique challenges in terms of the demands on players, the need for squad flexibility and the limited number of squad places available,” said Borthwick. “France 2023 is no different, but I am confident we have selected a squad of 33 that is able to meet those challenges and leave us best placed to be at our most competitive in this exciting tournament”
England squad:
Forwards
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)***
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)*
Theo Dan (Saracens, 1 cap)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)*
Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps)**
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps)*
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)***
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 20 caps)*
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)**
George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
David Ribbans (Toulon, 6 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 62 caps)*
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps) **
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 3 caps)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
Backs
Henry Arundell (Racing 92, 7 caps)
Danny Care (Harlequins, 88 caps)*
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps)*
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 106 caps)**
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 82 caps)**
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 19 caps)
Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 16 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 51 caps)**
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
Anthony Watson (unattached, 55 caps)**
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)***
