England Six Nations squad LIVE: Eddie Jones names team for 2022 tournament
Owen Farrell has been retained as England captain for the Six Nations but there are several big-name casualties in the training squad named for the opener against Scotland on 5 February.
George Ford continues to miss out despite his outstanding form at the heart of Leicester’s revival with Farrell, Marcus Smith and uncapped Bath prospect Orlando Bailey included as fly-halves.
There is no place for versatile back Elliot Daly despite his recovery from the stress fracture that forced him to sit out a successful autumn, and his Saracens colleagues Mako and Billy Vunipola also remain in international exile.
A fifth ever-present from the 2019 World Cup squad, and up until now a key member of Eddie Jones’ back row, has been frozen out in flanker Sam Underhill.
The uncapped Bailey, Alfie Barbeary, Ollie Chessum, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Luke Northmore continue Jones’ overhaul of his England squad as he builds for France 2023.
Follow live updates, reaction and analysis below as Jones reveals his 36-man squad:
Six Nations 2022 squad news
Eddie Jones announces England’s Six Nations squad
Squad expanded to 36 players for 2022 tournament
Owen Farrell named captain
Manu Tuilagi and George Ford among big names omitted
England squad for Six Nations training camp - Backs
10:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
BACKSMark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)Owen Farrell (Saracens, 94 caps)Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped)Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
England squad for Six Nations training camp - Forwards
10:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
FORWARDSAlfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps)Ollie Chessum, Leicester Tigers, uncapped)Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps)Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
BREAKING: England name 36-man squad ahead of 2022 Six Nations
10:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Manu Tuilagi
10:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The squad announcement is not far away at all now, but will Manu Tuilagi be included? The centre is yet to make his return to action after suffering his latest injury against South Africa in the autumn, though is expected to be back for Sale at some point before the end of the month. However with those involved at the Brighton training camp perhaps unlikely to feature for their clubs in the weekend before the start of the Six Nations, might Tuilagi be left out of the 36-player group to build up his fitness? We’ll find out in ten minutes or so.
Will any bolters make it?
10:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It also wouldn’t be an Eddie Jones England squad without a surprise or two. One under-the-radar name who is believed to have been under consideration is Kyle Hatherell, Worcester Warriors’ South African-born back-rower who would offer plenty of physicality. The back row is an area of strength for England but Jones likes to look at new faces - could Hatherell or another unexpected name be included?
Room for an apprentice or two?
09:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Eddie Jones likes to look to the future with his squads, often including younger players that he perceives as having real potential with an “apprentice” tag, allowing them to gain experience with the group without being included in the main squad.
That may be the route into this squad for Orlando Bailey, the young Bath fly-half with plenty of fine qualities.
New names in the frame
09:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A group of 36 should allow Eddie Jones a chance to look at some newer faces. Boisterous back-rower bruiser Alfie Barbeary is among those tipped for a call-up having moved more permanently to the back of the scrum having come through as an impressive age-group hooker.
The Independent also understands that Jones and his coaching staff have been impressed by a number of Harlequins. Defensively sound wing Cadan Murley and well-rounded centre Luke Northmore have put themselves in contention with a series of solid showings, while resurgent tighthead Will Collier, who earned two caps in Argentina in 2017, is another who could sneak in.
England Six Nations Squad - Experienced trio set to again miss out
09:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It is always best to expect the unexpected with Eddie Jones, but as things stand we are not expecting a recall for any of Mako Vunipola, Billy Vunipola and George Ford. The experienced trio were all left out for the Autumn Nations Series but have impressed with their performances at club level since, though it is unlikely they have done quite enough to convince Jones to hand them a Six Nations recall.
With Ford out, it is likely to again be Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell, who should be fit for the start of the tournament, as the first-choice fly-halves in the squad. Farrell is also expected to retain the captaincy.
England Six Nations Squad
09:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Good morning. It’s a big day of Six Nations squad news with both England and Wales set to name their first squads for the tournament.
As mentioned, it will be an expanded group named by Eddie Jones at 10.45am GMT to assemble in Brighton next week for a training camp, and the Australian will have greater flexibility to bring players out and in to the group after the RFU reached an agreement with the Premiership clubs.
England to confirm Six Nations squad
09:14 , Ben Burrows
Eddie Jones is set to confirm his England’s Six Nations 2022 squad with an expanded limit of 36 players this year.
One of the dynamics to this squad is Jones’ ability to select unvaccinated players despite strict travel rules that could rule them out of two of England’s three away fixtures, notably a possible title decider against France on Super Saturday.
That should give Jones the chance to experiment more, with young fly half Orlando Bailey, 20, one to watch. Bailey’s inclusion could cast doubt over George Ford’s future, with the Leicester Tiger dropped at the end of last year by Jones.
A year ago Jones could only select 28 players with Covid causing issues throughout the campaign and the Red Rose finished a dismal fifth, meaning there is extra motivation here.
Wales were triumphant in 2021, grabbing the Triple Crown, but missed out on the Grand Slam after defeat in a thrilling game at France on the final weekend of the campaign.
Jones will be optimistic too after a statement victory over world champions South Africa at Twickenham last year.
It promises to be a wide-open tournament following a surge in form from both Ireland, after a sensational victory over the New Zealand, and France’s eye-catching style, which also proved too much for a weary All Blacks side in the Autumn Nations.
