Fin Smith injury scare leads to change to England training squad

Gloucester fly-half Charlie Atkinson has been rewarded for his club form with a place in England’s training squad for the upcoming Nations Championship.

The 25-year-old has been brought in as cover for Fin Smith, who suffered a calf injury in Northampton’s derby day defeat to Leicester on Saturday.

Atkinson, who won his only England cap against USA in the summer of 2025, has been pivotal to Gloucester’s strong start to the season.

The Cherry & Whites lead the PREM table after the opening four rounds, while in the Champions Cup, they held holders Bordeaux-Begles to a draw.

Smith was named as part of a 36-man training squad by head coach Steve Borthwick on Sunday, but will not train this week and instead begin his rehabilitation in camp.

The Saints star has taken a grip on the 10 jersey since the last two rounds of the Six Nations, starting all three of the July Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

A calf injury forced him to miss the start of the Championship with George Ford selected as chief conductor and the veteran Sale playmaker will come into contention to deputise if Smith is ruled out.

Marcus Smith is the third fly-half in England’s elite player squad and the Harlequin entered camp on Sunday night as a player in form following his man of the match performance against Saracens hours earlier.

Smith celebrated his 200th appearance for Quins by running in the first try and stopping Max Malins from touching down with a last-gasp tackle in an emphatic 33-15 victory at The Stoop.

However, Borthwick sees Smith primarily as a full-back rather than fly-half where he plays for Quins, with the 27-year-old also a vital bench option because of his ability to cover multiple positions.

England have begun a three-day training camp ahead of the forthcoming Nations Championship. The squad will train at England’s Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park until Tuesday 27 October.

England welcome Australia to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Sunday 8 November in Round 4 of the Nations Championship, before taking on Japan and New Zealand.

Updated England Nations Championship squad:

Forwards:
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints)
George Martin (Saracens)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Kepueli Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby)

Backs:
Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
Noah Caluori (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Harlequins)
Will Joseph (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Marchant (Sale Sharks)
Archie McParland (Northampton Saints)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)