Two Bristol Bears players have been selected by England AGLOUCESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Bristol Bears’ Joe Batley during the Gallagher PREM match between Gloucester Rugby and Bristol Bears at Kingsholm Stadium on October 17, 2025 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bristol Bears lock Joe Batley will captain England A against an All Blacks XV as part of an exciting young side that will go to battle at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

Uncapped Batley missed England’s tour to Argentina and the USA in the summer with an injury, but is understood to be very much on senior head coach Steve Borthwick’s radar, despite now being 29. He is joined in the 30-player squad by uncapped team mate Fitz Harding, who rolls into the week with the development national team, having started for the Barbarians against the same opposition at the weekend, going down 33-19.

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Perhaps surprisingly, Bears hooker Gabriel Oghre has not been included in the Autumn squad, having earned his first senior cap for his country against the USA back in the summer. Instead, England A head coach Mark Mapletoft has opted to call up rising stars Nathan Jibulu, from Sale Sharks and Kepu Tuipulotu from Bath Rugby to cover hooker.

Bristol Bears ‘ Head of Athletic Performance, Kevin Geary will also join the England A management for this fixture.

Charlie Atkinson, Jamie Blamire, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Max Ojomoh, Tom Pearson, Ethan Roots and Adam Radwan are the seven previously-capped senior players involved this week.

Atkinson, Blamire, Hassell-Collins, Ojomoh and Pearson are five of 13 players with past England A matchday experience. 24 of the 30 named players have progressed from the England Men’s Player Pathway with caps for age-grade representative sides. These include current U20 Elite Player Squad member Noah Caluori and 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship winners Afolabi Fasogbon, Angus Hall, Sean Kerr, Nathan Michelow, Vilikesa Sela and Olamide Sodeke. The selection of the wider squad and matchday 23 is a collaborative approach made in consultation with Mapletoft, Borthwick and RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby Conor O’Shea. Mapletoft said: “We have assembled a dynamic young group of players aiming to excel whilst wearing the rose. I’d like to congratulate all selected players and staff involved. “Ten players that represented the England A side last season progressed to make their senior debuts – these fixtures matter for the future of English Rugby. “As evidenced in this week’s squad announcements, our connection from the age-grade and senior set-up is stronger than ever and we’re determined to continue that work over the forthcoming weeks.” England Men’s A squad for All Blacks XV fixture (includes current club, community club and senior caps) Forwards Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, Langworthy Reds ARLFC, uncapped) Joe Batley (Bristol Bears, Gosport and Fareham RFC, uncapped) Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers, Workington RFC, 7 caps) Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, Saracens Amateur RFC, uncapped) Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, Devonport Services RFC, uncapped) Tarek Haffar (Leicester Tigers, Grasshoppers RFC, uncapped) Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears, Beaconsfield RFC, uncapped) Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints, Southend RFC, uncapped) Nathan Jibulu (Sale Sharks, Old Wimbledonian Warriors RFC, uncapped) Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby, Matson RFC, uncapped) Nathan Michelow (Saracens, Brentwood Rugby, uncapped) Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, Bromyard Rugby Club, 1 cap) Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby, Wells RFC, uncapped) Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, East Coast Bays RFC, 4 caps) Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, uncapped) Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, uncapped) Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, uncapped)

Backs

Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, Oxford RFC, 1 cap) Jamie Benson (Harlequins, uncapped) Noah Caluori (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, uncapped) Tobias Elliott (Saracens, Harrow Rugby Club, uncapped) Caolan Englefield (Gloucester Rugby, Old Rutlishians Rugby, uncapped) Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, uncapped) Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, Newbury RFC, 2 caps) Josh Hodge (Exeter Chiefs, Vale of Lune RUFC, uncapped) Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom Rugby Club, uncapped) Rekeiti Ma’asi-White (Sale Sharks, Ampthill RUFC, uncapped) Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, uncapped) Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, Chippenham RFC, 1 cap) Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers, Billingham RUFC, 2 caps)