Joe Marchant has made his international intentions clear just weeks before he could become eligible to play for Wales after completing his England stand-down
Joe Marchant of Sale Sharks(Image: Getty Images)
English centre Joe Marchant has made his feelings clear on his international future as he targets a return to the Test arena just weeks before he becomes eligible to play for Wales.
Marchant is set to complete the three-year stand-down period required to change international allegiance in October, potentially making him an option for Steve Tandy’s Wales side.
But the 30-year-old has now made it clear that his immediate ambition is to win back his place in the England team.
Marchant has returned to the Premiership with Sale Sharks after three seasons at French side Stade Francais, a move which has reopened the door to international rugby with Steve Borthwick’s side.
And he says he wants to wear the England shirt again.
“I want to play for England, that’s what I want to do,” Marchant said.
“I’m proud to have played for England and I don’t want it to be my last time at that World Cup. I want to play again.”
Those comments come with Marchant’s potential Wales eligibility looming large, with the player potentially becoming available to don a Welsh shirt from October 27.
The centre, who was born in Winchester but is understood to have Welsh family connections, has not played Test rugby since England’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign.
He started at outside centre in England’s bronze-medal victory over Argentina in Paris, his final international appearance to date.
Marchant then joined Stade Francais, taking him outside the English domestic game and, under the eligibility rules, out of contention for England selection.
His return to Sale has changed that equation, with Borthwick telling him that the route back into the England squad is straightforward: play well in the Premiership.
“Steve and I have had a couple of chats here and there. Nothing crazy, but just a couple of chats,” Marchant said.
“That was the main message. Get back on the field and play and see where we go.”
It leaves Marchant with a decision to make if he reaches the point where Wales eligibility arrives without another England cap.
For now, though, there is no ambiguity about which country he wants to represent.
Marchant’s three-year stand-down period from Test rugby expires on October 27, meaning he could potentially become available to Wales shortly before the next phase of the international calendar.
That prospect had already generated interest around Welsh rugby when it emerged earlier this year that he could become eligible to switch allegiance.
But his return to England’s domestic game always offered another route, and Marchant appears to have made his feelings clear having held talks with Borthwick.
Marchant’s England career had appeared to be moving in the right direction before his move to France.
He had become Borthwick’s preferred outside centre during the 2023 World Cup, starting every knockout game and featuring prominently as England finished third.
His decision to move to Stade Francais was partly influenced by conversations with former England head coach Eddie Jones, who had indicated that Marchant was not fitting his plans at the time.
Jones was subsequently sacked, with Borthwick taking over and bringing Marchant back into the England fold.
“Steve brought me in and we had a really honest chat about who I am as a player, my decision to go abroad and who I am as a person,” Marchant said.
“They were all really positive. From that, we just got pretty aligned. He knew what he wanted from me and how to get it.
“For me, I just felt like it was really good clarity on what I need to do to get into that England shirt.”