Six Nations: Jamie George appointed as England’s captain for match against Wales
Jamie George will lead England against Wales in their Six Nations opener on Saturday.
George takes over as captain for Maro Itoje, who is listed among the substitutes.
Itoje was absent for the initial days of England’s pre-tournament training camp in Girona to attend his mother Florence’s funeral.
England is gradually reintegrating him into the squad, and he will reclaim the captaincy whenever he enters the match on Saturday.
In other team news, Steve Borthwick has paired Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman in the centres, while Henry Arundell has been selected on the wing for his first England start since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The remainder of the lineup features a familiar composition from the squad that achieved four victories in November.
Alex Coles fills the second-row position for Itoje, while Bevan Rodd and Trevor Davison are available as prop replacements on the bench.
Tom Curry and Henry Pollock are also included among the substitutes as part of England’s ‘Pom squad,’ alongside Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith.
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England:
15 Freddie Steward, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Alex Coles, 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Marcus Smith
