Ben Spencer and Harry Randall have been called into England’s squad for this month’s Nations Championship following injuries to scrum-halves Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland.
Mitchell suffered a hamstring problem during Northampton Saints’ victory over Gloucester on Saturday, while 21-year-old McParland sustained a calf injury during England’s training camp last week. Mitchell is due to undergo a scan to determine the severity of the injury and the length of his absence. He has already experienced three hamstring injuries this year.
McParland could still be considered for England’s matches against Japan and New Zealand on 14 and 21 November, respectively. Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet, who started all three of England’s summer Tests, is expected to remain the team’s first-choice scrum-half.
England may also need to adjust their options at fly-half, with Fin Smith dealing with a calf problem. Marcus Smith and George Ford are the potential replacements if Smith is unavailable.
Saracens hooker Theo Dan has been selected as the squad’s third option in the position, replacing Bath’s Kepu Tuipulotu, who was injured during the training camp. Dan was chosen ahead of Nathan Jibulu, Jamie Blamire and Gabriel Oghre.
Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson and Exeter wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso have also been included after returning from injury for their clubs at the weekend. In midfield, Gloucester’s Will Joseph and Sale’s Joe Marchant are selected. Marchant has regained eligibility after three seasons playing in France, while Joseph returns to the squad after earning his only previous England cap in 2022.
Bath centres Ollie Lawrence and Max Ojomoh, who both featured prominently in last autumn’s clean sweep, have not been selected. Saracens wing Noah Caluori is also absent.
England will face Australia, Japan and New Zealand before playing a fourth Test against an as-yet-undecided southern hemisphere opponent during the play-off finals weekend of the new Nations Championship format.
England’s squad includes forwards Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Emmanuel Iyogun, George Martin, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock and Will Stuart.
The backs are Seb Atkinson, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Will Joseph, Joe Marchant, Cadan Murley, Harry Randall, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward and Jack van Poortvliet.
Sources: BBC Sport.