England head coach Steve Borthwick has unveiled the 25-man Elite Player Squad (EPS) contract list for the upcoming season, signaling his core group of players for the 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign. The selections provide a clear indication of Borthwick's current trust in his squad.
Among the notable inclusions are Alex Coles, Seb Atkinson, and Guy Pepper. Conversely, Ollie Lawrence, Tom Roebuck, and Elliot Daly have been omitted from this core group. Tom Willis has also withdrawn from contention after signing with Bordeaux.
While these EPS contracts, reportedly worth around £150,000 each from the Rugby Football Union, do not guarantee Test selection, they offer a strong clue into Borthwick's strategic thinking. The core of the squad remains largely unchanged from the previous year, a group that endured a difficult Six Nations campaign, losing four of five matches in 2026.
Alex Coles' inclusion is particularly significant. The Northampton lock has shown considerable international progression over the past year, featuring in all of England's last 12 Tests. He performed well at lock during the recent Nations Championship matches when captain Maro Itoje was rested. Coles' versatility, like Ollie Chessum, to play in both the second row and back-row could prove invaluable at a World Cup.
Coles' development, coupled with the return to fitness of George Martin and Chessum's potential move to blindside flanker, suggests Borthwick has ample options for lineout forwards. Even with Itoje's likely return to partner Martin in the second row for the autumn internationals, Coles will aim to retain his starting position. His ability to perform crucial, less visible work while also possessing the ball-playing skills honed from two Premiership titles with Northampton provides a distinct advantage.
Other new faces on the EPS list include Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson, Bath flanker Guy Pepper, Leicester scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet, and Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Atkinson's move into the centre options signals a potential shift away from Lawrence, though it may serve as motivation for Lawrence to return to his peak form.
However, a persistent challenge for England remains the uncertainty surrounding the midfield pairing. Borthwick's squad management indicates a desire to maintain stability, but the team could benefit from new talent emerging to challenge the established order. Potential bolters include Northampton's George Hendy and Archie McParland, or Harlequins' 20-year-old scrum-half Lucas Friday.
With 20 of the 25 contracted players having been part of the squad last year, the current list reflects a degree of continuity. Despite this, the team's performance in the 2026 Six Nations highlighted a need for revitalization. The current squad composition makes it difficult to view England as genuine World Cup contenders at this stage, underscoring the importance of fresh talent injection.
