New England coach Borthwick leaves out Vunipola for Six Nations as Farrell remains captain

By Sports Desk January 16, 2023

Billy Vunipola has been left out of new head coach Steve Borthwick's 36-man England squad for the upcoming Six Nations, though Owen Farrell will be kept on as captain.

Other notable omissions alongside Vunipola are Jonny May and Jack Nowell, with a combined 180 England Test appearances between the three players.

Dan Cole is included, having received the most recent of his 95 caps in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final defeat to South Africa, while Northampton Saints fly-half Fin Smith is among the five uncapped players Borthwick has picked.

The other potential debutants are London Irish's Ollie Hassell-Collins and Gloucester hooker George McGuigan, as well as Harlequins duo Cadan Murley and Jack Walker.

Farrell and Marcus Smith were also named, with the former set to remain captain having occupied the role under previous head coach Eddie Jones.

England's first game with their new boss will be against Scotland in the Six Nations at Twickenham on February 4, though they likely already have one eye on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which begins in September.

Borthwick said: "This is an exciting squad, with a blend of Six Nations experience and young talent, and includes players who are in excellent form in the Premiership.

"We are all looking forward to the challenges of the Six Nations and we will approach this great tournament with a spirit of courage and total commitment.

"I know the players can't wait to get back to Twickenham and give our fans a performance they can be proud of.

"The hard work for the Scotland game starts now."

England squad: Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, George McGuigan, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis.

Backs: Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell (captain), Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Dan Kelly, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs.

Related items

  • Anderson open to England coaching role after Test retirement decision Anderson open to England coaching role after Test retirement decision

    James Anderson may be calling time on his Test career in July but the England great says he would be open to a coaching role in future.

    England's all-time leading wicket-taker Anderson will end his storied red-ball career after the first Test against West Indies on July 10. 

    Anderson's 700 wickets in 187 Tests are the most by any pace bowler in history but the 41-year-old will bow out as Brendon McCullum's England look to plan for the future.

    The Lancashire bowler's farewell international appearance will come at Lord's in the first of three Tests against West Indies, though Anderson suggested a move to the backroom staff could be a possibility.

    "I feel excited about what the future might hold, whether that is potentially to stick around with the team this summer in a different sort of capacity, it would be nice," Anderson told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.

    Reports emerged on Friday that McCullum is planning for the long term as he looks to reshape England's bowling attack, with the announcement confirmed a day later.

    England will be looking to build a team capable of claiming back the Ashes in Australia across 2025-26 and Anderson acknowledged that task may have proved too great.

    "It was sort of just looking ahead and could a 43-year-old me make the Ashes in 18 months' time and we sort of came to the decision that probably not," he added.

    "From my point of view, it feels like a stretch at this stage of my career and from their [England's] point of view there are 15 or so Tests before the Ashes.

    "It gives them time to give other guys Test matches and experiences before that. It feels like the right thing for me and the team going forward. It feels like a good time."

    Anderson says he will play for Lancashire before his Test farewell at Lord's, though plans remain unclear on his commitment to the county side after that.

    "I am not 100 per cent set on what I am going to do next," he continued.

    "That will be a conversation down the line and see what they [Lancashire] want to do and if I have the desire and willingness as well."

    As for that final time in England whites, Anderson wants to sign off in style.

    Ahead of the West Indies meeting, the England bowler is third on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers behind spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Australia's Shane Warne.

    "Nearer the time and around that Test different emotions will start rearing their head," he said. "Right now I am happy with everything.

    "I am glad I get to play cricket again. I am looking forward to playing for Lancashire, playing that first Test, having fun on the field and remembering why I started playing the game.

    "I would like to end it as I started it, loving bowling, showing my skills and helping the team win."

  • West Indies to host South Africa, England and Bangladesh in busy year of cricket West Indies to host South Africa, England and Bangladesh in busy year of cricket

    Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced an action-packed schedule for the West Indies Men, featuring three international home tours against South Africa, England and Bangladesh, from May to December 2024.

    The home tours begin with a visit from South Africa, for three (3) T20 Internationals (T20Is) at Sabina Park, prior to the start of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.  The Proteas then return to the region, after the West Indies Test Tour to England in July, with a two (2) Test Match Series to be played in Trinidad and Guyana, followed by a second three (3) match T20I Series at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, ahead of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

    Following a white ball tour away to Sri Lanka in October, the West Indies will welcome England to the Caribbean for a white-ball tour consisting of three (3) CG United One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five (5) T20Is.  The series will be played across Antigua, Barbados and Saint Lucia with travel packages on sale from today from CWI’s Official Tour Operators.

    Bangladesh then completes the action-packed year with an all-format tour before Christmas with two (2) Test Matches in Antigua and Jamaica, three (3) CG United ODIs in St. Kitts and three (3) T20Is in Saint Vincent.

    CWI Chief Executive, Johnny Grave urge fans to rally around the West Indies team for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, as well as for the three home series.

    “West Indies will welcome South Africa, England and Bangladesh to eight of our host countries in the West Indies, including Saint Vincent for the first time since 2012. With significant improvements being made to the National Stadium in Grenada and Windsor Park in Dominica we were unable to host International cricket there this year, but we are already looking forward to returning to both venues in 2025," Grave said

    "Fans can purchase tickets online from Friday for the first Series against South Africa in Jamaica and with our official travel partners for the England Tour later this year, with all other tickets expected to go on sale in July after the ICC Men’s T20 World. We urge fans to rally behind our Men in Maroon as we strive for a historic third T20 World Cup title and seek to secure all important points in the ICC World Test Championship," he added.

    Full Schedule

    South Africa Tour

    May 23 – 1st T20I @ Sabina Park, Jamaica – 3 pm (Eastern Caribbean time)

    May 25 – 2nd T20I @ Sabina Park, Jamaica – 3 pm 

    May 26 – 3rd T20I @ Sabina Park, Jamaica – 3 pm

    July 31-August 4 – Four-Day warm-up @ Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad – 10 am 

    August 7-11 – 1st Test @ Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad – 10 am

    August 15-19 – 2nd Test Match @ Guyana National Stadium – 10 am

    August 23 – 1st T20I @ Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad – 3 pm

    August 25 – 2nd T20I @ Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad – 3 pm

    August 27 – 3rd T20I @ Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad – 3 pm

    England Tour

    October 31 – 1st ODI @ Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Antigua – 2 pm

    November 2 – 2nd ODI @ Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Antigua – 9.30 am 

    November 6 – 3rd ODI @ Kensington Oval, Barbados – 2 pm

    November 9 – 1st T20I @ Kensington Oval, Barbados – 4 pm

    November 10 – 2nd T20I @ Kensington Oval, Barbados – 4 pm

    November 14 – 3rd T20I @ Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia – 4 pm

    November 16 – 4th T20I @ Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia – 4 pm

    November 17 – 5th T20I @ Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, St Lucia – 4 pm

    Bangladesh Tour 

    November 15-18 – Four-Day warm-up @ Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua – 10 am

    November 22-26 – 1st Test @ Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, Antigua – 10 am 

    November 30-December 4 – 2nd Test @ Sabina Park, Jamaica – 11 am (ECT)

    December 8 – 1st ODI @ Warner Park, St. Kitts – 9.30 am

    December 10 – 2nd ODI @ Warner Park, St. Kitts 9.30 am 

    December 12 – 3rd ODI @ Warner Park, St. Kitts – 9.30am

    December 15 – 1st T20I @ Arnos Vale, St Vincent – 8 pm

    December 17 – 2nd T20I @ Arnos Vale, St Vincent – 8 pm

    December 19 – 3rd T20I @ Arnos Vale, St Vincent – 8 pm

     

  • England great James Anderson to retire from Test cricket in July England great James Anderson to retire from Test cricket in July

    James Anderson has announced he will retire from Test cricket in July.

    The 41-year-old, who is England's all-time leading wicket-taker, will call time on his glittering red-ball career after the first Test against West Indies on July 10. 

    Anderson's 700 wickets in 187 Tests are the most by any pace bowler in history, and he has retained a key role in Brendon McCullum's team, playing four of England's five Tests in India earlier this year.

    However, McCullum is reportedly planning for the long term as he looks to reshape England's bowling attack, and on Friday it emerged he had held talks with Anderson regarding his future.

    Anderson's farewell appearance will come at Lord's in the first of three Tests against West Indies, before England take on Sri Lanka in another three-match series in August and September.

    In a statement posted on Instagram, Anderson said: "Just a note to say that the first Test of the summer at Lord's will be my last Test.

    "It's been an incredible 20 years representing my country, playing the game I've loved since I was a kid. I'm going to miss walking out for England so much. 

    "But I know the time is right to step aside and let others realise their dreams just like I got to, because there is no greater feeling.

    "I'm excited for the new challenges that lie ahead, as well as filling my days with even more golf. 

    "Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years, it's always meant a lot, even if my face often doesn't show it. See you at the Test."

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.