Steve Borthwick reveals when Henry Arundell can return to play for England

Today at 10:48 AM

England head coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed when Henry Arundell could next play for his team, with the explosive wing set to return to the Premiership next season. Arundell broke onto the England stage during the 2022/23 season, when he was under contract with former club London Irish.

Arundell scored seven tries in 10 England appearances, yet following the collapse of London Irish the wing ended up playing his club rugby in France with Racing 92, thus ruling him out of any future England involvements. Arundell’s last match for England was in the Bronze Final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with his penultimate cap being the five-try barnstormer he ran out against Chile.

However, Arundell has since decided to leave Paris at the end of the 2024/25 Top 14 season, with a move lined-up to Premiership heavy-hitters Bath. With the 22-year-old’s future confirmed in blue, black and white, Steve Borthwick is excited to get him wearing the red rose once again in the not-so distant future;

“As I understand, as soon as the Racing season finishes then he's going to be available for selection.” Borthwick confirmed, after England’s final match of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations.

This also enables Arundell to be eligible for both the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, and England’s own Summer Tour of Argentina and the United States this Summer.

The cross continental trip around the Americas, is a brilliant opportunity for Borthwick to bring new faces into the senior England set-up. Borthwick is excited to see an elevation of his squad from both the Lions players that return from Andy Farrell’s touring team, and from his own crop of stars that will take on Los Pumas and the USA Eagles.

Borthwick also revealed how an England XV will also take on a France XV, in an uncapped exhibition contest at the Allianz Stadium (June 21st). All in all, there is an exciting Summer ahead for Borthwick and his England bolters, with plenty of opportunities to impress whilst the Lions heavyweights are away from camp.

“Right, so if we throw forward, I think it’s an exciting time because we want as many of our England players on the Lions tour as possible. I’ve been fortunate to have plenty of rugby experience, great rugby experiences, and being part of the Lions coaching team in 2017 was probably the best.

“Anybody on that Lions tour will come back being a better player, so I want as many of them on that trip as possible. And that will open up opportunities for other players to play against France XV, the two Tests against Argentina and USA.

“Argentina are a top quality side. In recent seasons, they've beaten New Zealand, beaten Australia, South Africa. So we know what a formidable challenge it's going to be, it's a brilliant trip. We have a lot of players in this squad of 36 and we've had a couple more than 36 throughout the Six Nations.

“We’ve got our players outside that squad, ringing me in, texting me, wanting opportunities, and so there will be opportunities for those players.  What I’d say to them is play super well for their clubs between now and the end of the season. The Lions selection is early May, the announcement is early May, so I’m only watching every player play between now and then.

“So we will plan. My coaches will start planning on Thursday this week about the eventualities if a player leaves for the Lions, so we have two players in every position where you have that depth. And so those players will need to play super well for their clubs, and now push the case for selection.”

Whilst Borthwick is excited to see plenty of his leading England talents get a dutifully awarded call-up into the Lions squad, one man who will miss the plane is Ollie Lawrence. The midfielder was struck down by a brutal injury blow, as eight minutes into the match against Italy a fortnight ago, Lawrence sustained a potentially season-ending Achilles injury. Borthwick gave his condolences to the centre, who will be sorely missed by Bath, England and Lions fans this Summer.

“I have done the exercise about 10 times, where I’ve sat there and written out which players I think will go (on the Lions tour) – and I end up with a different number each time, because it depends on who’s playing well. Ollie Lawrence was one of those, so I was really disappointed for him that he’s not going to  have that opportunity on this Lions tour. I just want as many as possible, and hopefully, hopefully, there aren't any more injuries to any players.”

It’s not just the players that could be getting called-up into the Lions squad, with Steve Borthwick hopeful to see some members of his coaching staff get the nod for a place on the tour to Australia. With a decorated coaching staff of Premiership champions, dual-code footballers, and Rugby World Cup winners, Richard Wigglesworth, Kevin Sinfield or Richard Hill could also find themselves heading down under in a few short months time.

“I’d love them to have the opportunity.” Borthwick said. “I'd love as many of the management team as possible to have that. That Lions experience I had in 2017 was one of the best, if not the best, experience I've had in my life. Working with the best players from four different countries, working with incredible coaches against top class opposition.

“I developed and learned so much as a coach in that period, it was brilliant for me and accelerated my coaching, so I’d love as many other people from the England group to be in there as possible, and I’ll be fully supportive of them all.”

England ended their 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign in style this past Saturday, as Steve Borthwick’s side orchestrated an all-out attacking onslaught upon a hapless Welsh side. England ran riot with a 10-try demolition job, with the 68-14 score-line setting a new home record of defeat for Wales.

A stand-out player from the one-way win, was England debutant Henry Pollock. The Northampton Saints man maximised his minutes at the Principality Stadium, as he crossed over for a brace of second half tries that further dampened the Welsh hopes. Pollock is expected to make his first England start this Summer, when the side jets to South America for the first leg of their tour. Borthwick revealed what his own hopes are for the 20-year-old, who’s continued upon his meteoric run after graduating from the U20s program.

“I've spoken to you (the media) before, not for a little while, about the shirt feeling heavy. Where players put the shirt on and go 'let’s not make a mistake, don’t do anything wrong'. I don’t think he (Henry Pollock) is conscious of that. He just comes on and wants to win.

“He comes on and wants the ball. And if there’s something I could change and develop with this team through this whole next generation, if for them to be energised by the shirt, bring you all your personality, bring all your skill, and he did that today. 

“I know they (England U20s) suffered a tough game last night (23-13 defeat vs Wales U20) and there’s other players are that weren’t playing last night who'll be coming back in for the summer for the U20s. I’m really hopeful this U20s group is just going to come in, used to winning, used to playing together, and want to just get the ball in their hands, just like he does.”

EDITORS PICKS:

• Competition: A chance to roar the Lions on down under in Sydney and Melbourne!
• Team of the Tournament: 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations
• Four nominees announced for Six Nations Player of the Tournament
• "Be Yourself" – Henry Pollock reveals what Ellis Genge said to him upon his England debut
• "It's devastating"- Wales coach Matt Sherratt reacts to record 68-14 defeat to England 
• England's 2025 Six Nations Players Ranked From Best to Worst

The post Steve Borthwick reveals when Henry Arundell can return to play for England appeared first on Ruck.