Six Nations LIVE: England and Ireland announce squads and new captains ahead of tournament

Steve Borthwick and Andy Farrell revealed their squads after the drama surrounding Wales and Louis Rees-Zammit’s stunning move to quit rugby for the NFL

Gatland aware of Rees-Zammit’s NFL switch only ‘an hour’ before Wales squad announcement

The countdown to the 2024 edition of the Six Nations continued after the shock news that Wales have lost star Louis Rees-Zammit as he pursues a career in the NFL.

Earlier in the day, England named their squad, with Jamie George replacing Owen Farrell as captain after the fly half took a break from international rugby to prioritise his mental wellbeing. Borthwick’s selection for the tournament includes a number of eye-catching potential debutants, including Exeter pair Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ethan Roots.

Then it was the turn of Ireland, with Andy Farrell selecting Peter O’Mahony as his new captain to replace the retiring Johnny Sexton. Head coach Farrell’s 34-man selection does not include any uncapped players. However, there are recalls for Leinster quartet Cian Healy, Harry Byrne, Ciaran Frawley and Jordan Larmour, Ulster trio Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney and Jacob Stockdale, and Munster wing Calvin Nash.

Follow all the reaction to both squad announcements below:

England and Ireland Six Nations squad announcements - live updates

• Jamie George to lead England as Six Nations squad revealed
• Andy Farrell selects Peter O’Mahony as Ireland captain for Six Nations
• Wales and Scotland named their squads yesterday for next month’s Six Nations
• The 2024 Six Nations gets underway on 2 February with France v Ireland

[17 January 2024 13:37 · Ben Fleming]

What Owen Farrell’s potential move to France says about the future of club rugby

One only needs to be a casual consumer of club rugby union to recognise that the winds of change are blowing. If the news that Owen Farrell is giving strong consideration to a move to Racing 92 came as a bombshell, the idea of an English player contemplating a move from the Premiership Rugby to the Top 14 did not.

Farrell’s situation is different to most but his mulling of a move across the Channel reflects the general direction of rugby’s labour migration. France’s Top 14 is now firmly established as the world’s top domestic league financially, with a bumper TV deal, buoyant crowds and a thriving structure beneath it sustaining professional clubs across three tiers.

Conversely, English club rugby has shrunk, with the loss of four clubs in 12 months highlighting the financial issues within the system, where the challenges of Covid have led to a depression of the salary cap. Proposals are on the table to lift the current limit on player spending from £5m per year back to the previous figure of £6.4m, but with most clubs recording major financial losses each season, a number are reluctant for the cap to rise again.

[17 January 2024 13:27 · Ben Fleming]

Gregor Townsend undecided on Scotland captain amid Jamie Ritchie fitness battle

Yesterday, Gregor Townsend revealed his Scotland squad but said he is still to decide on whether Jamie Ritchie will captain Scotland for the upcoming Six Nations as the Edinburgh back-rower bids to prove his form and fitness ahead of the tournament.

The 27-year-old flanker has led the national team since succeeding Stuart Hogg in the role for the 2022 summer tour of South America but has been hindered by injury since the World Cup last autumn.

It was notable when Townsend announced his 39-man squad for the tournament on Tuesday afternoon that nobody was listed as skipper.

Read more of the Scotland head coach’s thoughts below:

[17 January 2024 13:17 · Ben Fleming]

Jamie George signs Saracens extension

The England hooker has been named as England’s new captain following Owen Farrell’s break from international rugby but there is more good news for the 33-year-old today as he’s just announced that he will be signing a contract extension with Saracens.

[17 January 2024 13:07 · Ben Fleming]

‘Wolverine’ Ellis Genge promises Six Nations return after ‘miraculous’ recovery

Ellis Genge has been named in England’s Six Nations squad and jokingly cited his Wolverine-like miraculous powers of recovery for ensuring he has shaken off a hamstring injury.

Prop Genge picked up the issue while training for club side Bristol Bears in December and it was thought the injury may rule him out of the start of the Six Nations – which begins for England away to Italy on Saturday 3 February.

But having worked closely with the Bears medical team, the 28-year-old insists he’s almost back to full fitness and while this weekend’s Champions Cup game against Connacht will come too soon, the Gallagher Premiership clash with Bath on 27 January is a possible target for his return.

Steve Borthwick names his England squad for the Six Nations on Wednesday morning, with Genge expected to be included, and his return will be a huge boost for the coach as he battles a string of injuries and retirements at loosehead prop.

Read the full interview below:

[17 January 2024 12:55 · Ben Fleming]

England’s fixtures

A reminder of how England’s fixtures look for the Six Nations:

Round 1: Italy vs England (Stadio Olimpico, Rome) - Saturday 3 February, 2.15pm GMT

Round 2: England vs Wales (Twickenham, London) - Saturday 10 February, 4.45pm GMT

Round 3: Scotland vs England (Murrayfield, Edinburgh) - Saturday 24 February, 4.45pm GMT

Round 4: England vs Ireland (Twickenham, London) - Saturday 9 March, 4.45pm GMT

Round 5: France vs England (Groupama Stadium, Lyon) - Saturday 16 March, 8pm GMT

[17 January 2024 12:45 · Ben Fleming]

Steve Borthwick names seven uncapped players in Six Nations squad

Analysis from The Independent’s Harry Latham-Coyle:

This looks a well-balanced squad named by Steve Borthwick, who will see this Six Nations as a real opportunity for England with a number of other nations in flux. Jamie George is a smart, sensible selection as captain in Owen Farrell’s absence - the hooker is an excellent communicator on and off the field who has been a key leader for many years. He is, even with Luke Cowan-Dickie’s return, a certain starter.

Elsewhere, Borthwick has retained a number of senior heads, with Joe Marler, Danny Care and Dan Cole ensuring continuity from the World Cup group and a bit of veteran nous. Still, there are plenty of looks to the future - take Chandler Cunningham-South’s inclusion ahead of Billy Vunipola, or the call-up for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, so impressive for Exeter this season and perhaps now kept out of Welsh hands.

Recalls for Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade and Ben Spencer are richly deserved, too.

[17 January 2024 12:35 · Ben Fleming]

England squad in full

So here’s the full squad listed out:

Forwards:

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 107 caps)

Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 41 caps)

Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, uncapped)

Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)

Theo Dan (Saracens, 7 caps)

Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 15 caps)

Ben Earl (Saracens, 25 caps)

Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)

Jamie George (Saracens, 85 caps) – captain

Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)

Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 11 caps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens, 76 caps)

Joe Marler (Harlequins, 88 caps)

Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)

Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)

Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)

Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)

Backs:

Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped)

Danny Care (Harlequins, 96 caps)

Elliot Daly (Saracens, 64 caps)

Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)

George Ford (Sale Sharks, 91 caps)

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)

George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)

Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)

Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, uncapped)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 57 caps)

Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 30 caps)

Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)

Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)

[17 January 2024 12:20 · Ben Fleming]

Jamie George to lead England as Six Nations squad revealed

Jamie George will captain England in the 2024 Six Nations with the hooker confirmed to lead a 36-player squad named by Steve Borthwick ahead of the tournament.

George replaces Saracens teammate Owen Farrell in the role, with the fly half taking a break from international rugby to prioritise his mental wellbeing.

Borthwick’s selection for the tournament includes a number of eye-catching potential debutants, including Exeter pair Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ethan Roots.

Wing Feyi-Waboso also qualifies for Wales but has opted to join up with England after a breakthrough season for his club, while New Zealand-born back rower Roots is eligible through an English father and has similarly impressed in a resurgent Chiefs side.

In case you missed it, here’s the main news from England’s men’s Six Nations squad announcement:

[17 January 2024 12:09 · Ben Fleming]

Meet the debutants: Fin Smith

With Owen Farrell’s departure from England duty, an opening has emerged at fly half and it has been filled by Fin Smith. The 21-year-old was selected by Borthwick in last season’s Six Nations squad and should provide competition for George Ford and Marcus Smith.

Plying his trade domestically for Northampton Saints, Smith has a small frame but is known for his superb all-round kicking game.

(Getty Images)

[17 January 2024 12:03 · Ben Fleming]

Meet the debutants: Tom Roebuck

Adding more pace on the wing is 23-year-old Tom Roebuck. The Sale Sharks man has worked his way through the England youth set-ups and has now been given an opportunity ahead of the Six Nations after scoring five tries this season.

(Getty Images)