With 2026 firmly upon us, Planet Rugby looks at the full England depth chart heading into the new year. Next up, it’s the forward pack.
Number eight
Number eight will continue to dominate headlines and column inches in the build-up to the Six Nations, but that’s not through a lack of depth.
Ben Earl enjoyed a stellar autumn at the back of the scrum, looking like the dominant player he was during the 2023 World Cup in the process, and will likely sit at the top of the pecking order this year. His carrying was a real focal point of England’s attack, particularly in broken field, and he also looked effective in heavy traffic too. Earl offers that extra breakdown threat too, which is something Steve Borthwick likes in his back-row.
Underneath him, Henry Pollock, Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Curry are all getting more exposure at number eight, be it at Test level or in the PREM, and could very easily get the nod here in 2026. They each offer something quite unique at eight, with Pollock more in the Earl-mould of explosive attacking option in broken play, Cunningham-South is your big-bopper option to truck hard in the tight, while Curry brings that defensive physicality to proceedings. Crucially, too, all three men offer that sort of versatility right across the back-row, which could then lead to a more fluid unit.
Exeter’s Greg Fisilau is pushing his name higher in the conversation with each passing week, looking like the perfect Tom Willis replacement in the process, and could easily be a bolter to make the Six Nations squad.
Ex-All Black Hoskins Sotutu will become eligible to play for England when he arrives at Newcastle Red Bulls at the start of next season, which could tempt Borthwick, while Callum Chick continues to improve following his move to Northampton Saints. Alex Dombrandt, Alfie Barbeary and Emeka Ilione are also back up and running after lengthy injury spells.
1. Ben Earl
2. Henry Pollock
3. Chandler Cunningham-South
4. Tom Curry
5. Greg Fisilau
6. Hoskins Sotutu
7. Callum Chick
8. Alex Dombrandt
9. Alfie Barbeary
9. Emeka Ilione
Flankers
This position sits in a rather unique zone, with Borthwick’s ‘Pom Squad’ now just seeing it become a more fluid unit rather than your traditional pecking order.
Bath duo Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill donned the six and seven shirts for the majority of the November Tests, and could do so again in 2026, but T. Curry, Pollock and Cunningham-South also featured heavily in the 23 too. Ben Curry will likely come straight back into contention when he returns to action this year, and could easily leapfrog his way up the pecking order if he hits the form he showed in the Six Nations and summer tour, while Ted Hill is also in the mix after making his own comeback.
Ollie Chessum’s versatility also means he could feature in the back-row, which then leaves Borthwick able to chop and change around him as he sees fit. Jack Kenningham also earned a place in the wider Autumn Nations Series squad back in November, and could easily crack the squad once again.
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Underneath that initial group, Fitz Harding and Ethan Roots are enjoying a proper purple patch for Bristol and Exeter respectively, and their England A selections at the end of last year show they are in Borthwick’s thoughts. Chick is also an option to slot in at flanker, and Saints teammate Tom Pearson will not be far off either.
1. Guy Pepper
2. Sam Underhill
3. Tom Curry
4. Henry Pollock
5. Chandler Cunningham-South
6. Ben Curry
7. Ted Hill
8. Ollie Chessum
9. Jack Kenningham
10. Fitz Harding
11. Ethan Roots
12. Callum Chick
13. Tom Pearson
Lock
The second-row kind of picks itself at the moment, both starting and the number 19 shirt, given the form of the top three in the autumn, and this again will be more of a fluid group rather than the traditional starters and reserves. Maro Itoje simply commands a starting position, both from a captaincy perspective and performance, while Chessum is his most likely partner. Alex Coles will certainly have something to say about, though, after his strong performances across the November Tests, and he has only built from that with Northampton too.
Cunningham-South and Hill have both been used in the engine room, for both club and country, and could see themselves here again in 2026.
Charlie Ewels, currently sidelined with an infection, also marked his return to the Test picture with a small but important cameo against Argentina, and offers plenty of experience to this relatively fresh lock group. George Martin will also likely come back into the England picture when he returns from his lengthy injury spell.
Gloucester’s Arthur Clark, Bristol’s Joe Batley and Saracens duo Nick Isiekwe and Hugh Tizard will also be vying for a spot.
1. Maro Itoje
2. Ollie Chessum
3. Alex Coles
4. Chandler Cunningham-South
5. Ted Hill
6. Charlie Ewels
7. George Martin
8. Arthur Clark
9. Joe Batley
10. Nick Isiekwe
11. Hugh Tizard
Tighthead prop
Even with premier option Will Stuart out with a ruptured Achilles, tighthead is a quietly strong area for England right now. Joe Heyes has really found his feet in recent years, after previous flirtations with the national side, and seems primed to be England’s number one number three this year as a result.
Currently injured Sale man Asher Opoku-Fordjour will likely sit as the number two option here. He’s enjoyed a fine start to life at senior level, quickly positioning himself as one of the best tighthead’s in the PREM and impressing in his Test outings too, and this year feels like a really good time to give him that extended run in the side.
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Underneath them, Gloucester’s Afolabi Fasogbon, Northampton’s Trevor Davison and Bristol’s George Kloska will also be vying for a spot in Borthwick’s squad, given they have all been involved at senior or A-team level.
1. Joe Heyes
2. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
3. Afolabi Fasogbon
4. Trevor Davison
5. George Kloska
Hooker
There has been a duopoly on the England hooker shirt for a long while now, with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jamie George dominating the jersey for the best part of 10 years now; and that could continue in 2026 too.
Both men have been included in the starting XV and Pom Squad in recent Tests, but in whichever order you have them, they bring that blend of quality and experience to the squad and will again be key assets.
Underneath them, Theo Dan will likely be involved once more, after rediscovering his best form for Saracens amid the backdrop of a frustrating November. Jamie Blamire has impressed since making the switch to Leicester Tigers, form which has seen him recalled into the England senior squad, while Gabe Oghre, Nathan Jibulu and Jack Walker will be pushing for a call-up once more.
1. Luke Cowan-Dickie
2. Jamie George
3. Theo Dan
4. Jamie Blamire
5. Gabe Oghre
6. Nathan Jibulu
7. Jack Walker
Loosehead prop
Like the back-row, there is a touch more fluidity at loosehead. Ellis Genge has enjoyed another brilliant year for club, country and the Lions, but his deployment in the Pom Squad has also allowed Fin Baxter to get proper minutes into his legs at Test level. That in itself is also a big plus, with the Harlequins man really improving as a result. They will likely command the one and 17 shirts once more.
Underneath them, Bevan Rodd is back on the pitch again after a lengthy spell away from the pitch, and already looks to be back in good form. He’s also been involved in the wider squad for a good while now, and should be in the mix once again.
Beno Obano seems to be working his way back into the England picture, after impressive performances for Bath, and was recently recalled into the wider squad too. Emmanuel Iyogun is also likely to be in the conversation, after previous flirtations with the senior squad
Underneath them, Opoku-Fordjour and Davison’s ability to cover loosehead also makes them an option here if needed.
1. Ellis Genge
2. Fin Baxter
3. Bevan Rodd
4. Beno Obano
5. Emmanuel Iyogun
6. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
7. Trevor Davison
READ MORE: Ranking England’s backline depth chart ahead of 2026 as Steve Borthwick faces ‘big call’