Centre Joe Marchant has earned a recall to the England rugby squad after being named in a 36-player training camp ahead of next month’s Nations Championship, the Rugby Football Union announced on Sunday.
Marchant previously departed to play club rugby in France following the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Having since returned to domestic competition with Sale Sharks, he is once again eligible for international selection. He joins the three-day training camp as head coach Steve Borthwick evaluates his options and finalizes selections for upcoming home test matches against Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, all of which are scheduled to be played at Twickenham.
The training roster also features three uncapped players—Greg Fisilau, Archie McParland, and Kepu Tuipulotu—who have previously spent time in national squads or training camps. Meanwhile, captain Maro Itoje returns to the fold following an extended break, and Fin Baxter and Will Stuart rejoin the group after missing previous fixtures due to injury.
Conversely, several players will be absent from the upcoming camp. Chandler Cunningham-South and Benhard Janse van Rensburg have been left out due to injuries, while veteran lock Courtney Lawes, who has also recently returned to England following a stint in France, did not secure a recall to the squad.
The full 36-player selection includes a mix of established internationals and emerging talent across the forwards and backs. The backs division features Noah Caluori of Saracens, Fraser Dingwall of Northampton, George Ford of Sale, Tommy Freeman of Northampton, George Furbank of Harlequins, Will Joseph of Gloucester, Joe Marchant of Sale, and Northampton duo Archie McParland and Alex Mitchell. They are joined by Cadan Murley of Harlequins, Max Ojomoh of Bath, Henry Slade of Exeter, Fin Smith of Northampton, Marcus Smith of Harlequins, and Leicester pair Freddie Steward and Jack van Poortvliet.
The forwards contingent comprises Fin Baxter of Harlequins, Ollie Chessum of Leicester, Arthur Clark of Gloucester, Alex Coles of Northampton, and the Sale trio of Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, and Tom Curry. Saracens players Ben Earl, Jamie George, Maro Itoje, and George Martin are included alongside Bristol’s Ellis Genge and Leicester’s Joe Heyes and Emmanuel Iyogun. Rounding out the forward pack are Asher Opoku-Fordjour of Sale, Northampton’s Tom Pearson and Henry Pollock, and Bath players Will Stuart and Kepu Tuipulotu.
