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England rugby union team: Fixtures, squad, key players, head coach and kit

The Six Nations, like no other competition in rugby, has the ability to bring casuals and diehard fans together in support of their country against their most fierce rivals.

No team encapsulates this as much as England. Pubs across the country will be racing to restock their Guinness storage ahead of what promises to be a hugely exciting Six Nations Championship.

For the nation who invented the sport, England have largely disappointed in this competition since winning the Grand Slam and Rugby World Cup in 2003, although they are still the only Northern Hemisphere side to have won the latter.

English fans across the country will be getting behind their team on TV and at Twickenham to hopefully restore some glory to this once great rugby nation.

Rugby Union

England rugby union fixtures

Six Nations 2025:

  • Saturday 1st February 2025: Ireland v England, Aviva Stadium (16:45 GMT).
  • Saturday 8th February 2025: England v France, Twickenham Stadium (16:45 GMT)
  • Saturday 22nd February 2025: England v Scotland, Twickenham Stadium (16:45 GMT)
  • Sunday 9th March 2025: England v Italy, Twickenham Stadium (16:45 GMT)
  • Saturday 15th March 2025: Wales v England, Principality Stadium (16:45 GMT)

England rugby union squad

Squad list

Forwards:

Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol - vice-captain ) – Jamie George (Saracens – vice-captain), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Ted Hill (Bath), Maro Itoje (Saracens – captain), George Martin (Leicester), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Will Stuart (Bath), Tom Willis (Saracens).

Backs:

Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), George Ford (Sale), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), Ollie Lawrence (Bath),  Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton), Fin Smith (Northampton), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester).

Six Nations 2025 squad lists for every team

Key players

Marcus Smith

From legends of the calibre of Jonny Wilkinson, to new age cult heroes like Owen Farrell and George Ford, England's number 10 stocks have always been strong.

The latest player trusted with the reins is Marcus Smith. The Harlequins fly-half broke through in the Gallagher Premiership at the age of 18 and now, a more seasoned professional, has made that shirt his own.

A mercurial talent, Marcus Smith is an exciting player. Electric pace and a goose-step which would fool even the best defender, he is at his absolute best with ball in hand.

Question marks will always remain over his goalkicking, however in the Premiership this has vastly improved in the 2024/25 season, up to 96% from 65% in 23/24.

Maro Itoje

The old adage always rings true: "Forwards win games, backs decide by how many."

With exciting young backs such as Marcus Smith waiting in the wings, the men up front for England need to step up. No one embodies this more than new captain, Maro Itoje.

The England skipper has never given an inch in his career, battling and fighting for every lineout, ruck and maul that is thrown his way. It is vital to England's success that Itoje is in fine form.

Standing at 6ft 6ins in height and weighing 118 kg, Itoje is an imperious figure who leads not only by action but by voice and England will be looking to their new inspirational leader as they push to better last season's third place finish.

England rugby union head coach

Steve Borthwick

A former England captain himself, Steve Borthwick knows what it takes to win the Six Nations Championship.

He was in the squad for England's 2001 success and was Forwards Coach for two Six Nations wins including a Grand Slam in 2016.

His short coaching career so far has been hugely successful, with stints for Japan (Forwards Coach), England (Forwards Coach), Leicester Tigers (Head Coach) and England (Head Coach).

Borthwick is known for an "old school" approach to rugby coaching, with an emphasis on forwards and set piece dominated rugby. This was most successful in his time with Leicester, winning the Gallagher Premiership in 2022.

In his time with England so far, Borthwick's style has come under some criticism. As comes with the nature of his style, when the results aren't positive, people look for excitement.

The "old school" style doesn't always provide this and Steve Borthwick will know that he needs this tournament to be a successful one.

England rugby union kit

The England national rugby union team traditionally wear an all white home kit with Navy Blue and Red trimmings.

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