Steve Borthwick has selected England’s squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship following a change of captaincy.
Maro Itoje has been appointed England captain for the 2025 Men’s Six Nations Championship.
The 30-year-old lock replaces club team-mate Jamie George, who takes up the vice-captain role alongside Elli Genge. Steve Borthwick has announced changes with his full 36-man training squad for the upcoming Six Nations.
The squad also lost veteran tighthead prop Dan Cole and Bath scrumhalf Ben Spencer from selection. Charlie Ewels, Trevor Davison and Alex Lozowski also missed the cut.
Two unrestricted players were named. Harelquins duo Oscar Beard and Cadan Murley.
Commenting on the change in captaincy, Borthwick said: “With 88 caps for England, Maro has been a central figure in this team for many years and brings a huge amount of experience both on and off the pitch.
“He is a quiet and influential leader, known for his commitment to high standards and his ability to motivate those around him.”
England’s Six Nations team finished third in 2024 with three wins (including a famous win over Ireland at Twickenham) and two defeats.
The tournament marked the start of a major rebuild for manager Steve Borthwick. This is because several experienced players (including captain Owen Farrell) have retired or become unavailable after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
READ MORE: Six Nations fixtures 2025
England Six Nations squad
from now on
Finn Baxter
Olly Chess Island
Alex Coles
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Chandler Cunningham-South
ben curry
tom curry
According to Dan
Alex Dombrandt
Ben Earl
Ellis Genji (VC)
Jamie George (VC)
joe hayes
ted hill
Move (C)
george martin
Asher Opoku-Fordday
Bevan Road
Will Stuart
tom willis
back of a chair
Oscar Beard
Elliot Dali
fraser dingwall
george ford
tommy freeman
Ollie Lawrence
Alex Mitchell
adan away
harry randall
Tom Roebuck
henry slade
Olly Slateholm
pin smith
freddy steward
Jack van Putvliet
England Six Nations squad: Line-ups for all matches 2024
Round 1: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
XV starts: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daley, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George (captain), Will Stewart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Lutz, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
shift: Theo Dan, Beno Obano, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Finn Smith, Emmanuel Fay-Waboso.
result: Italy 24-27 England
Round 2: v Wales (Twickenham)
XV starts: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daley, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George (captain), Will Stewart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Lutz, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
shift: Theo Dan, Ellis Kenji, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Finn Smith, Emmanuel Fay-Waboso.
result: England 16-14 Wales
Round 3: v Scotland (Murrayfield)
XV starts: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Kenji, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Olly Chessum, Ethan Lutz, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
shift: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stewart, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Spencer, Finn Smith, Emmanuel Fay-Waboso.
result: Scotland 30-21 England
Round 4: v Ireland (Twickenham)
XV starts: George Furbank; Emmanuel Fay-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genji, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
shift: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stewart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly
result: England 23-22 Ireland
Round 5: v France (Groupama Stadium, Lyon)
XV starts: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genji, Jamie George, San Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
shift: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stewart, Ethan Lutz, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Manu Tuilagi.
result: France 33-31 England
England Six Nations squad 2024
forward
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
Ollie Chesum (Leicester Tigers)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewells (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genji (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens) – Captain
Joe Hayes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Ethan Lutz (Exeter Chiefs)
Will Stewart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
back of a chair
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Dali (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Emmanuel Fay-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sail Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Will Muir (Bath Rugby)
Max Ozomo (Bath Rugby)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Tom Roebuck (Sail Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Finn Smith (Northampton Saints)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
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