Ollie Lawrence returns to starting line-up as captain Maro Itoje wins 100th England cap
The Six Nations 2026 squad will be looking to bounce back quickly from Saturday’s Calcutta Cup to Scotland, and head coach Steve Borthwick has continued his habit of going early with his team announcement for Saturday’s match against Ireland.
Henry Pollock will make his first ever England start, as he and fellow back rower Tom Curry are promoted from the bench – Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper move in the opposite direction.
The front row of Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Joe Heyes is unchanged after last week’s defeat in Edinburgh, while Ollie Chessum and skipper Maro Itoje reprise their second row partnership. The England captain is set to win his 100th England cap, only the ninth player to reach the milestone. In the back row, Curry starts on the blindside, with Pollock at number 8. Ben Earl moves to the openside to accommodate.
In the backs, Ollie Lawrence comes into the side at outside centre, with Tommy Freeman shifting out to the wing, and Tom Roebuck dropping out of the matchday 23. Henry Arundell, who’s avoided suspension after Saturday’s red card, returns on the other wing, while Fraser Dingwall continues at inside centre. George Ford continues in the number 10 shirt, alongside scrum-half Alex Mitchell.
Borthwick has stuck with a 6-2 bench. Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison and Alex Coles all keep their places, but there’s movement elsewhere. Pepper and Underhill are back row substitutes, Jack Van Poortvliet comes in for Ben Spencer as replacement scrum-half, while Marcus Smith gets the nod over Fin Smith to provide additional backs cover.
“To reach 100 caps for England is a remarkable achievement and speaks volumes about Maro’s consistency and professionalism over many years,” said Borthwick. “He leads through his actions every day, sets the standard for others and cares deeply about representing his country. We’re all incredibly proud of what he has achieved, and I know it will be a special day for him and his family.
“We’re expecting a huge contest at Allianz Stadium and we’re excited for it. We know the challenge Ireland will bring and we’ve selected a side that we believe has the right balance to meet it.”
England v Ireland kicks off at 2.10pm GMT on Saturday 21 February, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player in Ireland.
England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 3
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Henry Pollock
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Guy Pepper
21. Sam Underhill
22. Jack Van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 2
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl
Replacements (6-2 split):
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Fin Smith
England Six Nations team v Wales – round 1
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (captain)
3. Joe Heyes
4. Alex Coles
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Maro Itoje
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Marcus Smith
England Six Nations squad 2026: the 36 players selected by Steve Borthwick
Forwards (20): Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Ben Earl (Saracens), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens, captain), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs (16): Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
England Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance
- Sat 7 February, England 48 v 7 Wales
- Sat 14 February, Scotland v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 21 February, England v Ireland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 7 March, Italy v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on ITV in the UK
- Sat 14 March, France v England (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK
England Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025
Round 1: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Result: Ireland 27-22 England
Starting XV:
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Tom Willis
22. Harry Randall
23. Fin Smith
Round 2: v France (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 26-25 France
Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
Round 3: v Scotland (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 16-15 Scotland
Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
Round 4: v Italy (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)
Result: England 47-24 Italy
Starting XV:
15. Elliot Daly
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (vice-captain)
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
Round 5: v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
Result: Wales 14-68 England
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Elliot Daly
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Henry Pollock
21. Tom Willis
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. George Ford
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