Furbank Makes England Comeback for Six Nations Campaign
Northampton Saints full-back George Furbank has been named in England's 36-man squad for the upcoming Six Nations championship, marking a significant return to international rugby after a period sidelined by injury. The 29-year-old missed the entire autumn internationals campaign due to a calf issue and has not featured for his club since late December, but his recovery has been deemed sufficient for selection.
Injury Woes Behind Him as Furbank Eyes Wales Opener
Furbank's inclusion provides a timely boost for head coach Steve Borthwick, who is preparing his side for their opening match against Wales on 7 February. The player has been plagued by injuries in recent times, including an arm problem that ruled him out of last year's Six Nations. His return offers a ball-playing alternative at fullback, contrasting with the style of Freddie Steward, and adds depth to England's backline options as they aim for their first Six Nations title since 2020.
Three Uncapped Players Earn Call-Ups
Borthwick has also introduced fresh talent to the squad, with three uncapped players receiving their first senior call-ups. Greg Fisilau, the Exeter Chiefs back-rower, is included after displaying fine form for his club, providing a robust ball-carrying presence. He is joined by two young props: Billy Sella, a 20-year-old tighthead, and Emmanuel Iyogun, a loosehead. Their selections come amid injury concerns in the front row, with Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour unavailable, and Sella preferred over Afo Fasogbon.
Squad Dynamics and Injury Management
The squad will head to Girona next week for a warm-weather training camp, with several players travelling for rehabilitation purposes. Among those nursing injuries are Fin Baxter, Fin Smith, Tom Roebuck, Ollie Lawrence, and Ben Curry. In other squad news, Jack van Poortvliet returns as one of three scrum-halves after missing the autumn series, while Raffi Quirke drops out. Seb Atkinson also makes a comeback to bolster the centre ranks after impressing on his debut last summer.
Trevor Davison will compete with Sella for the second prop spot behind Joe Heyes, who showed considerable improvement during the autumn. Notably, there is no place for 19-year-old Noah Caluori, who was included in the autumn squad after a standout Premiership performance. The squad is once again captained by Maro Itoje, as England seek to build on their recent form and challenge for the championship title.
