England have retained 25 players to continue their preparations for their Guinness Six Nations match again Ireland in Dublin on 2 February 2025 (kick off 4.45pm, live on ITV).
In addition Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) and Brad Shields (Wasps) will remain with the squad to continue their reconditioning until Thursday when the team travel to Dublin. Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), who has a side strain, will also stay in camp while the team is in Portugal.
Scrum-half Dan Robson is in line for his international debut having been retained in the 25.
Owen Farrell is also included having recovered from a hand injury.
“We have Brad Shields, Joe Cokanasiga and Ben Te’o who are not far away from where we want them to be but in a game of this magnitude we need everyone to be 100% so they will stay with us and continue to rehab,” said scrum coach Neal Hatley. “The plan is to have them all fit for France.
“Ben suffered a small side strain in training, he is doing his rehab, is not far away, but as I say everyone needs to be fully fit.”
Hatley however, says the squad can cope with the missing trio as they prepare for Saturday’s game with head coach Eddie Jones set to name his side on Thursday.
“We have had people running in different positions so we are pretty good at that and we make sure we comprehensively cover all the different permutations of what could happen so it’s not like Ben is the only person who has run at 12 for us,” added Hatley.
Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
