England Rugby is going through a confusing stage at the moment, with Eddie Jones continuing to ring the changes three years after making the World Cup Final. This is the current squad Eddie Jones has taken to Australia for the three test tour.
Luke Cowan-Dickie
The Exeter Hooker has had a very mixed England career so far and it looked like he would become England’s starter before a terrible Six Nations campaign. Coming off the back of serious injury, Cowan-Dickie is looking to find his form once again as he is closing in on being 30 years old.
Jamie George
One of the more experienced players in the squad, George currently has 67 caps for England. Making his debut in August 2015, it took him 19 games before George finally started a game for his country. Having become the starter for Eddie Jones in 2017, George was also the starter for all three of the Lions games in the 2017 tour.
A starter in the 2019 World Cup Final, George has once again become the starter this year thanks in part to Saracens return to the Premiership.
Jack Walker
One of the uncapped players in the squad, Walker has been brought into the squad this summer for the first time in his career. Walker being in the squad is thanks in part to a move to Harlequins from Bath last season, where he has become the starter for Quins. Walker may not play on this tour but is one to watch out for in the future.
Ellis Genge
One of the superstars of this England squad, Genge has developed into one of the best props in the world. With a move to home town side Bristol this year, Genge will look to continue playing in the form of his life which helped Leicester to a title.
At 27, Genge will develop into more of a leader within the England squad and his ball carrying ability makes him a really important part of the England team.
Joe Heyes
Another Leicester prop, Heyes is certainly one for the future. With England short of Tightheads this summer, Heyes is getting a big chance to prove himself, despite not regularly starting for Leicester.
Despite starting off as a football in Nottingham Forest’s academy, Heyes has been around the England squad since 2020 and while he may not be a long term starter, he could easily be part of the England squad for the next 10 years.
Bevan Rodd
One of the youngest members of the squad, Rodd’s form for Sale has made it impossible for him to not at least be in the England squad. The 21 year old has two caps for England including his debut against the USA despite being born in Glasgow.
Rodd is an all round prop, with his work at the breakdown one of the standout points of his game, giving him a different skillset to the other props in the England squad. If it was not for a lot of talented Looseheads, Rodd would be getting in the team a lot more.
Patrick Shickerling
Another uncapped member of the squad, Shickerling has benefited from Exeter’s injury struggles to get the attention of Eddie Jones. Brought into the squad for the first time against the Barbarians, he only made his Exeter debut in February of this year.
Unlikely to appear this tour, he could make his England debut after some more appearances for the Chiefs.
Will Stuart
With the injury to Kyle Sinckler, this summer is a huge one for Will Stuart. He has been unable to nail down a starting role with England since his debut in the 2020 Six Nations.
Since his debut, Stuart has played 21 times for England as the national team have a lack of depth in the Tighthead position. Helpful in the scrum, Stuart has a big role to play this summer if he wants to play consistently for England.
Mako Vunipola
The most experiences prop in the squad, Mako is back playing for England ten years after making his debut. He was out of the England squad for a couple of years due to Saracens being demoted to the Championship but thanks to good form and others picking up injuries, Mako is in the squad once again.
The biggest prop in the squad, Vunipola has always been a good carrier and more than reliable at scrum time even, attributes that led to him being involved in the 2016 Grand Slam Six Nations campaign as well as starting in the World Cup final.
Ollie Chessum
The youngest forward in the squad, Chessum is coming off the back of his breakout season with Leicester and has already been rewarded with three England caps including his debut in the last Six Nations.
The 6ft 7in lock has been very good in his limited England minutes despite only being 21 years old. Chessum is in a great position to play for England for a very long time to come.
Johnny Hill
After playing well in youth rugby, Hill’s move to Exeter helped to push him to the national team, being called up for the first time in 2018. It seems like Hill is Itoje’s partner for the Australia tour with Courtney Lawes moving to Flanker.
Dominant in the air, Hill is crucial to England’s lineout but has his critics due to questionable behaviour on the pitch.
Nick Isiekwe
Speaking of Itoje’s partners, Nick Isiekwe has gotten the attention of Eddie Jones due to the success of Saracens. The 24 year old has seven caps so far for his country having played in the youth teams.
Having made his debut in 2017, Isiekwe has been in and out of the England team, not featuring for four years until being recalled for the 2022 Six Nations campaign. A good player who can be helpful in England squads of the future.
Maro Itoje
It is pretty easy to say that Maro Itoje is the best English rugby player at the moment. Having made his international debut in 2016 he has been a starter ever since. Itoje has also been on two England tours, being Player of the series last year against South Africa.
Phenomenal in the ruck, his mobility and ariel ability has made him a three time World Ruby Player of the Year nominee as well as European Player of the Year in 2016 and surely a future captain.
Courtney Lawes
Picked over Owen Farrell as the captain for England this summer, Lawes is incredibly experienced having made his debut in 2009. Lawes has been playing for England in three world cups as well as starting in the 2019 World Cup Final.
One of the hardest working players in the squad, Lawes is also one of the hardest hitters playing for England and his leadership makes him a brilliant captain.
Lewis Ludlam
Another Northampton flanker, Lewis Ludlam has impressed in limited time for England, only playing twelve caps at the time of writing. One of the reasons for this is that Ludlam only made his international debut in 2019 when he was brought into the England squad for the World Cup.
Since then he has not been able to establish himself in the team, but with injuries to Tom Curry, Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmons, Ludlam could be crucial to England this summer.
Sam Underhill
Despite the terrible form of Bath in the last couple years, Sam Underhill has still managed to get 28 caps despite still only being 25 years old. Since his debut in 2017, Underhill has consistently been in the England team mainly due to his incredible work rate. He constantly makes tackles and is undoubtably one of the hardest workers in an England shirt.
Billy Vunipola
The second Vunipola brother, Billy is back in the squad after being exiled by Eddie Jones. With injuries to first and second choice number eights, Vunipola could not be ignored as he has been back to his best this season with Saracens. Vunipola has played 62 times for England and is a destructive carrier who won his first cap in Argentina in 2013.
Jack Willis
Wasps are putting together a good young core of players, one of those standouts is Jack Willis. Willis scored a try on his debut with England in 2020 but was out of the England squad for a year due to a nasty ACL injury against Italy in the 2021 Six Nations.
It is great to see him back in the England squad and while he will be slowly integrated back into the squad, Willis looks likely to feature a lot in the back row in the future.
Danny Care
The oldest man in the England squad, Care first played for his country all the way back in 2008 against New Zealand. It seemed as though his England career was over in 2018 when Eddie Jones looked for a younger scrum half.
After incredible performances for Harlequins over the last two seasons, Care was the obvious replacement for Ben Youngs who was unavailable for the tour.
Jack Van Poortvliet
It is very surprising to see Jack Van Poortvliet in the squad considering he was Leicester third choice scrum half this season. But the 21 year old is undoubtably very talented. You could see that in his England debut where he scored a late try against Australia in a losing effort.
Impressive in his limited time, Van Poortvliet has Care to learn from with England and England’s most capped international, Ben Youngs, teaching him at Leicester.
Harry Randall
It seems like Harry Randall is the most likely future scrum half for England. The 24 year old has facilitated Bristol’s stunning attack over the last few years and finally made his England debut in 2021 before becoming the starter for England in this years Six Nations after being on the bench the first week. We will certainly see a lot more of Randall in years to come.
Owen Farrell
The most experienced England player currently in the squad, Farrell is just five games away from playing a century of games for England. The 30 year old led England to the 2019 World Cup final and has been absolutely phenomenal in an England and Saracens shirt.
With years still left, Farrell will likely become England’s highest capped international and he is fully deserving of the honour considering how much success he has brought England in his time including three Six Nations titles and a World Cup final.
Marcus Smith
England’s star boy has exploded onto the international scene over the last couple of years, finally making his England debut in July 2021 before leading England past world champions South Africa in the Autumn internationals.
Smith was excellent in the Six Nations despite England struggling and he will be the starting Fly-Half for England for a very long time to come. If Eddie Jones can find a way to make Smith and Farrell work together they can be a dangerous combination.
Fraser Dingwall
With injuries to centres like Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade, it opened up opportunities for this summer and Fraser Dingwall took advantage. The Northampton centre has impressed this season with good carrying ability and fast feet.
It is not the first time that Dingwall has been in the England squad and I’m sure it will not be long until he makes his debut.
Will Joseph
One of the two apprentice players currently in the England squad, Joseph has impressed massively in his first full season of Premiership Rugby. The 19 year old has a powerful running style as well as some incredibly quick feet which helped him score in the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-final.
Unlikely to feature on this tour, Joseph will surely be making his England debut in the next few years.
Joe Marchant
One of the unsung heroes of Quins 2021 Premiership title victory, Marchant is finally starting to establish himself in the England midfield thanks to injuries. Making his debut in a world cup warm up game in 2019, Marchant has featured all across the backs and is finally establishing himself in the number 13 jersey for Harlequins.
Guy Porter
Another centre benefitting from injuries, this is Porters first call up to England. It is hardly surprising if you watched the 2022 Premiership final as Porters defence helped Leicester to a victory. Despite growing up in Australia, Porter will likely make his England debut very soon.
Joe Cokanasiga
The Fijian born winger has a lot of special attributes with a great combination of speed and power to make him and excellent winger. After his England debut in 2018, two serious knee injuries have reduced his England chances, but in limited minutes Cokanasiga has managed to score eleven tries in his twelve caps for England.
Johnny May
The only Gloucester player in the squad, May is the most experienced member of the back three. He made his first England start in 2013 and since then has scored some incredible tries to become England’s second highest try scorer.
May is incredibly fast and while he is the wrong side of 30, it would not be surprising to see him feature a few more times in an England shirt.
Jack Nowell
Another experienced winger, Jack Nowell made his England debut in the 2014 Six Nations and is another constant try threat, scoring a hattrick in the 2015 World Cup. An incredibly hard worker, Nowell does a lot of the dirty work wingers don’t usually do and it has led him to England and Exeter success.
Henry Arundell
Many people probably would not have heard of Arundell six months ago but he has become a really exciting young prospect, scoring a brilliant try on debut against Australia. The youngest player in the England squad, Arundell is incredibly talented and there is no doubt we should see more of him in the future.
Tommy Freeman
One of the two Northampton fullbacks in the squad, Freeman is yet to make his debut for England despite playing well against the Barbarians. With only 20 appearances for the Saints, it was his play at U20 level international that brought the attention of Eddie Jones.
Freeman might not feature on this tour but should get opportunities later in the year.
George Furbank
Versatility is one thing Eddie Jones is looking for and Furbank brings that, being able to cover Fullback or Flyhalf. Having made his debut in the 2020 Six Nations, Furbank has continued to be around the England squad for the last two years as well as starting in this years Six Nations.
Likely to be the deputy of Freddie Steward, Furbank is incredibly consistently good with ball in hand and with the boot.
Freddie Steward
One of the best young players in the England squad, Freddie Steward has established himself as the starting Fullback for England for the next ten years. The Premiership Player’s Young player of the year made his England debut against the USA in 2021.
Steward is brilliant with the ball in hand shown by tries against South Africa and Australia but Steward is dominant in the air and his kicking is excellent. Steward is quickly becoming one of the first names on the team sheet for Eddie Jones.