Northampton Saints full-back George Furbank has been included in England's 36-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations Championship, providing a significant boost to head coach Steve Borthwick's plans. Furbank, who missed the entire autumn internationals campaign due to a calf injury, has been declared fit enough to be in contention for the tournament opener against Wales on 7 February.
Injury Woes Behind Him
The 29-year-old has not featured for his club since 20 December, but has successfully recovered in time for selection. Furbank's recent career has been hampered by persistent fitness issues, having also missed last year's Six Nations with an arm injury. His return offers England a ball-playing option at fullback, contrasting with the more physical style of Freddie Steward.
Uncapped Trio Earn Call-Ups
Borthwick has named three uncapped players in his squad, with Exeter back-rower Greg Fisilau joining 20-year-old tighthead prop Billy Sella and loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun. Fisilau has been rewarded for impressive form with the Chiefs, providing a robust ball-carrying option in the absence of Tom Willis, who has agreed a move to Bordeaux next season and was not considered for selection.
The tighthead position presents particular challenges for Borthwick, with Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour both sidelined through injury. This situation has paved the way for Sella's inclusion, with the young prop preferred to Afo Fasogbon. Iyogun benefits from Fin Baxter's foot injury, though the Harlequin is expected to feature during the Championship period.
Injury Rehabilitation Group
Several players will travel to England's warm-weather training camp in Girona next week primarily for rehabilitation purposes. This group includes Fin Smith (calf), Tom Roebuck (foot), Ollie Lawrence (knee), Ben Curry (hamstring), and the aforementioned Fin Baxter. Their presence indicates Borthwick's cautious approach to managing fitness concerns ahead of the demanding tournament schedule.
Squad Stability and Returns
The squad shows considerable continuity from previous selections, with Maro Itoje again captaining the side as England pursue their first Six Nations title since the Covid-affected 2020 championship. Seb Atkinson returns to bolster the centre ranks after making a positive impression on his debut last summer before missing the autumn through injury.
In the front row, Trevor Davison will compete with Sella for the second prop position behind Joe Heyes, who demonstrated significant development during the autumn internationals. Jack van Poortvliet returns as one of three scrum-halves after missing the autumn campaign, with Raffi Quirke dropping out of contention.
Notably absent is 19-year-old Noah Caluori, who was included in the autumn squad after scoring five tries on his first Premiership start but has not retained his place for the Six Nations campaign. The selection decisions reflect Borthwick's balancing act between rewarding form, managing injuries, and building consistency ahead of the championship opener in Cardiff.
