In a significant reshuffle of England’s rugby squad, head coach Steve Borthwick has excluded Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly from the 25-man central contract list as he prepares for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia next year. Despite their participation in the Six Nations, both Lawrence and Daly were absent from England’s three summer Tests. This decision signifies a notable shift in strategy, particularly concerning Lawrence, who had previously stood out in a match against New Zealand.
The revised squad sees the introduction of Northampton forward Alex Coles and Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, alongside new contracts for Seb Atkinson, Guy Pepper, and Jack van Poortvliet, who were not included in the previous year’s list. Daly’s exclusion is especially surprising, given his reputation for versatility and the praise he has received from Borthwick in the past. Nonetheless, Daly remains a potential candidate for the broader World Cup squad, which will comprise 33 players.
The omission of these players adds to the competitiveness of England’s midfield and back-three positions. Atkinson is now seen as a strong contender for the inside-centre role, while Opoku-Fordjour’s dual capability in the scrum increases his appeal. Meanwhile, Courtney Lawes and Benhard van Rensburg, the latter being a South African-born centre who debuted internationally this summer, have also been left out of the central contract list. Lawes, however, stays in the running for selection following his return to England.
England’s central contracts, valued at approximately £150,000 per season, enable the coaching staff to exert greater influence over the players’ training and preparation. Borthwick’s latest selections offer a preliminary glimpse into the talent pool he is considering for the World Cup roster. The strategic choices made in this round of contracts highlight the ongoing adjustments within the squad as England gears up for the global stage.
