Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly have both been removed from their central contracts, as head coach Steve Borthwick has left them out of his 25-man squad ahead of England’s World Cup preparations a year in advance.
Neither player participated in the three Nations Championship matches this summer, with Daly recovering from an arm injury. Both athletes had previously played during the Six Nations, making their absence from Borthwick’s latest selections notable, as it reflects his considerations for the upcoming World Cup.
Among the notable additions to the squad are Northampton’s Alex Coles and Sale’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who is capable of playing on either side of the scrum. Conversely, Borthwick has chosen not to award a contract to Benhard van Rensburg, a South African-born centre who made his debut earlier this summer. Courtney Lawes, who has returned to play after transferring from a French club to Sale and has expressed a desire to participate in the World Cup, has also been overlooked.
In total, Borthwick has introduced five new players into the group that receives approximately £150,000 annually, over whom he has increased authority. Joining Coles and Opoku-Fordjour, who were not contracted last year, are Seb Atkinson, Guy Pepper, and Jack van Poortvliet. Along with Lawrence and Daly, players such as the injury-stricken Ben Curry, his Sale teammate Tom Roebuck, and Tom Willis, who has rejoined Bordeaux, have also been excluded.
Atkinson’s selection sheds light on Lawrence’s omission, yet it remains surprising given that the Bath centre was a standout performer in England’s victory over New Zealand last autumn. Both he and Fraser Dingwall, who also impressed against the All Blacks, have since slipped down the selection hierarchy.
Daly’s exclusion comes as a surprise as well, particularly since Borthwick has previously acknowledged his versatility and anticipated his significant role in next year’s World Cup. Although his removal from this squad does not eliminate him from contention for the tournament in Australia—where a larger squad of 33 players will be chosen—it does indicate his current standing in Borthwick’s plans leading into the Nations Championship matches scheduled for November.
Coles’s inclusion in the squad was expected, given his participation in all 12 of England’s Tests over the past year and his starting role in the summer matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina, during which captain Maro Itoje was rested. Opoku-Fordjour, despite having only eight caps, stands out due to his versatility, while Atkinson has solidified his position as Borthwick’s preferred inside-centre.
Borthwick made headlines by selecting van Rensburg at the earliest opportunity after he qualified for England based on residency, yet he did not receive a central contract. Awarding Lawes a contract after his two-year stint in France could have conveyed a confusing message to players within England, but the 37-year-old will likely have an opportunity to prove himself in the upcoming season. The same applies to Joe Marchant, who has also joined Sale.
The omission of Ben Curry is expected due to his ongoing injury issues, while Roebuck’s status has declined rapidly. Notably, Borthwick has not chosen a direct replacement for either the Sale winger or Daly, illustrating the shifting nature of his back-three options. Willis’s transition to France, which followed soon after he was given a central contract, was an embarrassment for the Rugby Football Union, with Pepper now benefiting from this situation. Van Poortvliet, meanwhile, played in all three summer Tests while Alex Mitchell was injured.
