AllRugby  

11 hrs

England faces injury challenges ahead of the 2025 Six Nations, impacting key players and squad depth.

England`s preparations for the 2025 Six Nations Championship have taken a significant hit due to a spate of injuries affecting key players. Head coach Steve Borthwick faces the daunting task of reshaping his squad as they gear up for the tournament, which kicks off against Ireland on February 1.

Former captain Jamie George is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during Saracens` recent defeat to Castres in the Champions Cup. Maro Itoje has stepped in as captain, but the loss of George is a considerable blow. Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet is also out, while Alex Mitchell`s participation remains uncertain after he suffered a knee injury in Northampton`s Champions Cup victory over Munster.

In addition to these setbacks, Northampton Saints` Alex Coles and Harlequins` Alex Dombrandt are unavailable due to injuries. To fill these gaps, Borthwick has called up uncapped players Arthur Clark from Gloucester and Henry Pollock from Northampton. Curtis Langdon will provide cover for George at hooker, and Borthwick has also invited Ben Spencer from Bath and Raffi Quirke from Sale Sharks to the training camp to strengthen the scrum-half position.

England`s recent autumn campaign was challenging, with losses to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa, although they managed to secure a win against Japan. Borthwick`s focus now shifts to improving England`s performance in the upcoming Six Nations, where they will face tough competition in their quest for success.

For more details on England`s injury woes and squad changes, check out the full article on England`s squad and the latest results on rugby results.

#SixNations2025,#EnglandRugby,#InjuryUpdate,#SteveBorthwick,#RugbyNews