England coach Steve Borthwick has unveiled a group of 36 players to prepare for the start of the 6 Nations Tournament. Maro Itoje is the captain.
It’s a beautiful and just reward. Maro Itoje was named captain of the XV de la Rose by coach Steve Borthwick. At 30 years old, the second row succeeds Jamie George (34 years old), whose mandate lasted twelve months, and who sees increasing competition with Theo Dan and Luke Cowan-Dickie. For the record, he was named captain of Saracens at the start of the season following the departure of Owen Farrell. He was even, at the time, captain of the English under-20s… “With 88 caps, Maro has been a central figure in this group for many yearsjustified Steve Borthwick. He brings colossal experience on and off the field. He is not only calm, but he is a leader with a lot of aura.”
Moreover, the list of 36 players unveiled this Tuesday by the English federation includes Tom Willis, very prominent among the Sarries, but omits Henry Pollock, 20-year-old third row at Northampton.
Advantages: Fin Baxter (21, Harlequins, 0 caps), Ollie Chessum (24, Leicester Tigers, 12 caps), Alex Coles (24, Northampton Saints, 2 caps), Luke Cowan-Dickie (31, Exeter Chiefs, 42 caps), Chandler Cunningham-South (22 years old, London Irish, 0 caps), Ben Curry (26 years old, Sale Sharks, 11 caps), Tom Curry (26 years old, Sale Sharks, 45 caps), Theo Dan (23 years old, Saracens, 5 caps), Alex Dombrandt (28 years old, Harlequins, 14 caps), Ben Earl (27 years old, Saracens, 20 caps), Ellis Genge ( 30 years old, Bristol Bears, 50 caps), Jamie George (34 years old, Saracens, 77 caps), Joe Heyes (25 years old, Leicester Tigers, 8 caps), Ted Hill (25 years, Bath Rugby, 2 caps), Maro Itoje (30 years, Saracens, 70 caps), George Martin (24 years, Leicester Tigers, 6 caps), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (20 years, Wasps, 0 caps), Bevan Rodd (24 years old, Sale Sharks, 5 caps), Will Stuart (28 years old, Bath Rugby, 25 caps), Tom Willis (26 years old, Saracens, 3 selections).
Rear: Oscar Beard (21 years old, Harlequins, 0 caps), Elliot Daly (32 years old, Saracens, 69 caps), Fraser Dingwall (25 years old, Northampton Saints, 2 caps), George Ford (31 years old, Sale Sharks, 98 caps), Tommy Freeman (24, Northampton Saints, 15 caps), Ollie Lawrence (25, Bath Rugby, 31 caps), Alex Mitchell (27, Northampton Saints, 18 caps), Cadan Murley (25, Harlequins, 0 caps), Harry Randall (27, Bristol Bears, 11 caps), Tom Roebuck (24, Sale Sharks, 3 caps), Henry Slade (31 , Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps), Ollie Sleightholme (24, Northampton Saints, 5 caps), Fin Smith (22, Northampton Saints, 6 caps), Marcus Smith (26 years old, Harlequins, 39 caps), Freddie Steward (24 years old, Leicester Tigers, 35 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (24 years old, Leicester Tigers, 16 caps).
