5 uncapped hopefuls who could break into the England squad before the RWC

While international coaches seem to think solely in terms of World Cup cycles in modern rugby, Rassie Erasmus has taught the world in recent years that it is never too late to burst onto the Test scene.

Of his 2019 world-beating Springboks side, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith were all uncapped in 2018. Likewise, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Deon Fourie, Grant Williams and Manie Libbok got their first taste of Test rugby in 2022 before lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in 2023.

In 2015, Nehe Milner-Skudder made his All Blacks debut just a matter of weeks before starting and scoring in a 34-17 World Cup final victory over Australia. The Springboks’ replacement scrum-half in the 2019 final, Herschel Jantjies, had also only been a Test player for a few months. Jean-Marc Doussain even made his France debut in the 2011 World Cup final, though that is not recommended.

As much as experience and cohesion are crucial in Test rugby, this shows that it is never too late in a World Cup cycle for players to establish themselves as Test players.

In the middle of a testing year, this will provide a lot of solace to England head coach Steve Borthwick, as it will reassure him that he can turn things around. Moreover, he has the players out there to help him get back on track. Here are five uncapped players that he could turn to this year:

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1. Archie McParland (Northampton Saints)
Had Northampton’s McParland not suffered a deep knee laceration in the opening quarter of the Gallagher PREM final, there is a good chance he would not be on this list, as he already would have a cap.

Instead, the 21-year-old missed out on Borthwick’s squad, but England’s scrum-half spots still appear up for grabs. McParland’s Saints’ team-mate Alex Mitchell picked up yet another hamstring injury, and his deputies, Jack van Poortvliet and Ben Spencer, failed to truly grab hold of either scrum-half shirt in a matchday squad.

Another season like he just had, and McParland will definitely be in the reckoning to head to Australia in 2027.

2. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Based on the Six Nations and Nations Championship squads, it looks like Borthwick really wants to give a cap to Fisilau, but can’t quite work out how to.

The back-row was in imperious form last season, but in order to cap him, it would mean a member of England’s esteemed back-row would have to be dropped from a matchday squad. Ben Earl? Henry Pollock? Tom Curry? Ollie Chessum? Guy Pepper? Sam Underhill (when he returns)? Courtney Lawes? There are already too many to fit into a squad, and Fisilau’s inclusion would only complicate things.

His time will surely come though.

3. Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath)
Most World Cup squads usually have a shock omission or two in there, and it is not inconceivable that one of Jamie George (who will be 36 during next year’s tournament) or Luke Cowan-Dickie (who will be 34 next year) could be casualties.

On the other hand, Borthwick seems to be going headlong into the World Cup with those two as his hooker options, providing few opportunities for the third-choice option. Theo Dan appears to be that third-choice currently, but another season of professional rugby for the soon-to-be 21-year-old Tuipulotu could see him featuring in England squads.

Even if George and Cowan-Dickie are the preferred options in Australia, Tuipulotu could surge into consideration if his career continues on the same trajectory.

4. Billy Sela (Bath)
When Will Stuart picked up his Achilles injury last season, it looked as though his Bath team-mate Sela was destined for an England cap. Instead, he saw Joe Heyes, Trevor Davison, Asher Opoku-Fordjour and George Kloska play ahead of him.

However, like Fisilau, the 21-year-old was a member of both England’s Six Nations and Nations Championship squads. Borthwick is clearly lining him up for Test rugby; we’ll have to see if that is before or after the World Cup, though.

5. Hoskins Sotutu (Newcastle Red Bulls)
The joker in the pack in this list, and indeed English rugby – no one exactly knows what the future holds for the English-qualified 14-cap All Black Sotutu.

All we know is the No.8 is heading to Newcastle Red Bulls from the Blues. Is he part of Borthwick’s plans? Who knows. But he is an oven-ready Test No.8, which England do not currently have with Tom Willis’ departure to France and Alex Dombrandt’s ACL injury.

Honourable mentions: Given the glut of options in the back-row, Jack Kenningham, Emeka Ilione and Alfie Barbeary face a Herculean challenge overcoming their rivals. Likewise, Northampton’s George Hendy would thoroughly deserve a Test cap on the wing, but he would have to usurp a shedload of players to achieve that.