England Squad for This Summer's Tour: Key Players Absent Due to Lions Commitment
04/14/2025 06:12 AM
The British & Irish Lions won't be the only ones heading Down Under in the Summer of 2025. Every Six Nations side will be taking their own overseas adventures, with England set to face Argentina in a two-match series before heading to Washington DC for a standalone fixture against the United States.
Get a Chance to Watch the Lions in Australia
But Steve Borthwick's summer just got a whole lot trickier. With some of England's biggest names set to miss out – including potential Lions call-ups – the competition for spots in the squad is about to get fierce. England captain Maro Itoje is expected to play a key role in the Lions’ tour, leaving Borthwick with the tricky task of reshuffling his lineup.
And don't be surprised if some of England's regulars, like Marcus Smith, miss out entirely. With the Autumn Nations Series just around the corner, Borthwick could opt to give his star players a well-deserved break ahead of another grueling set of Twickenham Tests.
But with the big guns taking a step back, the summer tour offers a golden opportunity for uncapped players to shine. The latest round of Premiership Rugby has thrown up a host of exciting talent, and with a revamped squad likely for England's encounters with Los Pumas and the American Eagles, expect some fresh faces to step up.
So, who's set to make the cut? With key players unavailable, the summer squad will likely feature more uncapped players than usual. Here's how the squad could shape up:
ENGLAND SUMMER SQUAD 2025
Props:
- Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
- Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
- Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
- Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester)
Hookers:
- Theo Dan (Saracens)
- Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
- Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints)
Second-Row:
- Arthur Clark (Gloucester)
- Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
- George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Back-Row:
- Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
- Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
- Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)
- Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
- Ben Curry (England)
Halfbacks:
- Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
- Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
- Ben Spencer (Bath)
- George Ford (Sale Sharks)
- Alex Lozowski (Saracens) – Also as a centre
Centres:
- Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
- Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
- Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
- Max Ojomoh (Bath)
Back-Three:
- Christian Wade (Gloucester)
- Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
- Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
- Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol Bears)
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28 England players on Andy Farrell’s 75-man Lions watchlist
British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell has confirmed that a 75-player longlist has been assembled ahead of the 2025 tour to Australia. The competition is fierce, with Farrell admitting there's no shortage of talent vying for a spot.
Looseheads: Genge and Porter Set to Lead the Charge
Ireland's Andrew Porter remains the front-runner to start in the No. 1 jersey after his impressive performances in recent seasons. Scotland's Pierre Schoeman offers a powerful scrummaging option, while Wales' Nicky Smith is a consistent performer. England is well-represented with Ellis Genge, Bevan Rodd, and rising star Fin Baxter pushing for inclusion.
- Andrew Porter (Ireland)
- Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)
- Nicky Smith (Wales)
- Ellis Genge (England)
- Bevan Rodd (England)
- Fin Baxter (England)
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2025 LIONS:
HE PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 2 x Return flight tickets from the UK to Australia
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 2nd Test in Melbourne
- 2 x Tickets to watch the 3rd Test in Sydney
- 4 x Night's accommodation in Melbourne with bed & breakfast (24-27 July)
- 7 x Night's accommodation in Sydney with bed & breakfast (28 July-3 Aug)
- 2 x Flight tickets Melbourne to Sydney including airport hotel group transfers
- 2 x Tickets to watch a private function with Lions legends
- Additional events to be announced
The winner will be part of the Lions supporters group with tour representatives on hand to oversee everything.
Hookers: Sheehan and George in Pole Position
Ireland's Dan Sheehan has been a standout performer and looks a strong contender to start. His Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher provides excellent cover, while England's Jamie George and a returning Luke Cowan-Dickie bring plenty of Lions experience. Dewi Lake is Wales' leading option.
- Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
- Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)
- Jamie George (England)
- Luke Cowan-Dickie (England)
- Dewi Lake (Wales)
Tightheads: Furlong Leads Strong Contingent
Ireland's Tadhg Furlong is a near-certainty for the squad, while Finlay Bealham adds versatility. England's trio of Will Stuart, Joe Heyes, and Kyle Sinckler offer plenty of competition. Scotland's Zander Fagerson remains a reliable option.
- Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
- Finlay Bealham (Ireland)
- Will Stuart (England)
- Joe Heyes (England)
- Kyle Sinckler (England)
- Zander Fagerson (Scotland)
Locks/Blindsides: Itoje and Beirne Among Favourites
Maro Itoje remains a key figure, with England also supplying George Martin, Ollie Chessum, and veteran Courtney Lawes. Ireland's Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan provide leadership, while Joe McCarthy and Iain Henderson add depth. Scotland's Scott Cummings and Grant Gilchrist will compete for spots, while Dafydd Jenkins looks to be Wales' strongest option.
- Maro Itoje (England)
- George Martin (England)
- Ollie Chessum (England)
- Courtney Lawes (England)
- David Ribbans (England)
- James Ryan (Ireland)
- Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
- Joe McCarthy (Ireland)
- Iain Henderson (Ireland)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Wales)
- Scott Cummings (Scotland)
- Grant Gilchrist (Scotland)
Flankers/No. 8s: Doris and Earl Set to Shine
Ireland's Caelan Doris is a top contender for the No. 8 jersey, while Josh van der Flier and Peter O'Mahony add experience and breakdown prowess. England's back-row options are loaded, with Tom Curry, Ben Earl, and Jack Willisoffering variety. Scotland's Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie are strong candidates, while Wales' Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright bring dynamism.
- Tom Curry (England)
- Ben Curry (England)
- Ben Earl (England)
- Sam Underhill (England)
- Henry Pollock (England)
- Jack Willis (England)
- Tom Willis (England)
- Caelan Doris (Ireland)
- Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
- Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
- Jack Conan (Ireland)
- Rory Darge (Scotland)
- Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
- Matt Fagerson (Scotland)
- Jack Dempsey (Scotland)
- Jac Morgan (Wales)
- Aaron Wainwright (Wales)
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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