England Six Nations 2026 squad: Ollie Chessum starts in only change to XV to face France

Sarah Rendell

Sam Underhill drops to bench as Steve Borthwick sticks with the 23 players who lost in Italy

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The England Six Nations 2026 squad has 80 minutes to salvage something from a dismal campaign. One win from five would be a disaster for a side who had serious aspirations of winning the title, but facing France in Paris is one of the biggest challenges in rugby.

Having completely overhauled his team ahead of last weekend’s match in Rome, Steve Borthwick has stuck with the 23 players who started the match in Rome.

The only changes come in the back row, where Ollie Chessum comes into the XV in place of Sam Underhill (drafted into the starting line-up at the last-minute last week, after Tom Curry was injured during the warm-up).

Chessum will play at blindside flanker, with Guy Pepper shifting to openside to accommodate. Ben Earl starts alongside them at number 8.

Elsewhere in the pack, there’s a front row of Ellis Genge, Jamie George and Joe Heyes, ahead of locks Alex Coles and captain Maro Itoje.

The backs division is unchanged. Elliot Daly returns at full-back, while Tom Roebuck and Cadan Murley start on the wings. The ever-present Tommy Freeman reprises his centre partnership with Seb Atkinson, Fin Smith is back at fly-half, and Ben Spencer continues at scrum-half.

Aside from Underhill and Chessum swapping places, the 6-2 bench is unchanged from Rome: the replacements are Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill, Henry Pollock, Jack Van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith.

Underhill and Marcus Smith are both in line to win their 50th caps.

“It’s a huge challenge under the lights in Paris against a very strong France side,” said Borthwick. “England versus France is one of the great rivalries in international rugby and we’re looking forward to the occasion.”

France v England kicks off at 8.10pm GMT on Saturday 14 March, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK, and RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player in Ireland.

England Six Nations team v France – round 5

15. Elliot Daly
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Seb Atkinson
11. Cadan Murley
10. Fin Smith
9. Ben Spencer

1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Alex Coles
6. Ollie Chessum
7. Guy Pepper
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Sam Underhill
21. Henry Pollock
22. Jack Van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith

England Six Nations team v Italy – round 4

15. Elliot Daly
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Seb Atkinson
11. Cadan Murley
10. Fin Smith
9. Ben Spencer

1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Alex Coles
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Henry Pollock
22. Jack Van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith

England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 3

15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Henry Pollock

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Guy Pepper
21. Sam Underhill 
22. Jack Van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith

England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 2

15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl

Replacements (6-2 split):
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Fin Smith

England Six Nations team v Wales – round 1

15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (captain)
3. Joe Heyes
4. Alex Coles
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Maro Itoje
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Marcus Smith

England Six Nations squad 2026: the 36 players selected by Steve Borthwick

Forwards (20): Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens, captain), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), George Kloska (Bristol Bears), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs (16): Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

England Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance

  • Sat 7 February, England 48 v 7 Wales 
  • Sat 14 February, Scotland v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on ITV in the UK
  • Sat 21 February, England v Ireland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
  • Sat 7 March, Italy v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on ITV in the UK
  • Sat 14 March, France v England (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK

England Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025

Round 1: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-22 England

Starting XV:
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Theo Dan
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Tom Willis
22. Harry Randall
23. Fin Smith

Round 2: v France (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 26-25 France

Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly

Round 3: v Scotland (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 16-15 Scotland

Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly

Round 4: v Italy (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 47-24 Italy

Starting XV:

15. Elliot Daly
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (vice-captain)
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith

Round 5: v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Result: Wales 14-68 England

15. Marcus Smith
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Elliot Daly
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Henry Pollock
21. Tom Willis
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. George Ford

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