England name Six Nations regular as George Furbank's replacement

Sale Sharks winger Tom Roebuck has been called into the England squad ahead of Saturday’s match against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.

Roebuck, who could count himself unlucky to miss out on the original squad, has been brought in as a replacement for Northampton full-back George Furbank.

The 25-year-old started four of England’s Six Nations games earlier this year, scoring a try in three of them, with the home defeat to Ireland the only match that he missed out on.

Since making his Test debut against Japan in Tokyo in June 2024, he has scored eight tries in 12 senior appearances for England and impressed last Autumn before a broken toe forced him on the sidelines.

The luckless Furbank was due to start last Saturday’s Nations Championship 45-21 defeat to South Africa at Ellis Park but had to be rushed to hospital with appendicitis. Marcus Smith covered 15 in his absence and England’s defence was ripped apart in the early exchanges.

Furbank remains in Johannesburg after having his appendix removed on Friday, and is due to return to the UK on Tuesday.

It is the latest setback to have struck the Harlequins-bound full-back after calf and concussion issues, as well as a fractured arm, prevented him from adding to his 14 caps since November 2024.

Full-back Freddie Steward is expected to be available for Saturday’s clash with Fiji at Hill Dickinson Stadium after missing the Springboks showdown because of a rolled ankle.

Cadan Murley’s shoulder injury remains under investigation, however, and he is a doubt to take on the Islanders, with head coach Steve Borthwick scheduled to name his team on Thursday.

Having overcome his hamstring issues, Alex Mitchell made his comeback as a second-half replacement for Jack van Poortvliet against the world champions and is contention to start.

The Liverpool showdown with Fiji will be the first time England have played in the north of the country since thumping Italy 37-0 at St James’ Park in 2019 and for Mitchell it will be the chance to return to his roots having begun his career in Sale’s academy.

“Going to Liverpool will be pretty special – it’s a new stadium and new fans. To try get some new fans up there would be really nice,” Mitchell said.

Following Saturday’s fixture against Fiji, England will travel to Argentina for their Round 3 Nations Championship match against Los Pumas at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.