Chiefs duo prepare for clash with Wales

By Mark Stevens
19/2/23

Exeter Chiefs duo Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade have both been named in a 36-player England squad that has been named this evening by head coach Steve Borthwick for this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales.

England will travel to Cardiff to face Wales at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 25 February (4.45pm KO).

Slade will be hoping to retain his place in the England team having featured in their win against Italy last time out, whilst Simmonds will be aiming to force his way into the squad having missed out against Scotland and Italy.

There are returns from injury for Tom Curry, George Ford and vice-captain Courtney Lawes. Uncapped duo Fraser Dingwall and Cadan Murley are also named in the squad, who have met up at the Honda England Rugby Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot.

Ollie Hassell-Collins was unavailable for selection due to a knee issue.

Wales v England is live on BBC One and BBC Radio 5 Live.

FULL SQUAD

FORWARDS

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 97 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 45 caps)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 11 caps)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 45 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 74 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 10 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 64 caps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 96 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 58 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 76 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, 1 cap)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 7 caps)

BACKS

Henry Arundell (London Irish, 4 caps)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 103 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 16 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 14 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 53 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 19 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 52 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)