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Ollie Chessum became the latest in a long line of players to represent England internationally under Eddie Jones.
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Sometimes debutants cement their position in the squad instantly, while others flail and disappear into the abyss. Below RugbyPass takes a look at the ten latest debutants for England and their current positions in the squad.
Alex Dombrandt
Alex Dombrandt made his long-awaited England debut last summer in the 70-14 drubbing of Canada. The dynamic back rower helped lead Harlequins to their second Premiership title in June 2021 and has been frequently touted as England’s future starting number eight. Sam Simmonds started in that position in the opening Six Nations game against Scotland but Dombrandt was given the starting spot against Italy last weekend.
Harry Wells
Harry Wells spent two and a half years with Championship side Bedford Blues before re-joining the Leicester Tigers in 2016. He has since become a mainstay of the team at lock or back row and in 2021 started for England against Canada in his first and only international cap. Wells did not make Eddie Jones’s 2022 Six Nations squad.
Dan Kelly
Leicester Tigers centre Dan Kelly was given the 12 jersey against Canada. He was born in Manchester and played for the Ireland Under 20s before being capped for England. Jones’s decision to promote Kelly implies there is an international future for the youngster but not right now as he was not selected in this year’s Six Nations squad.
Adam Radwan
Newcastle Falcons speedster Adam Radwan scored seven tries in 11 matches during the 2020/21 season and earnt an England call-up against Canada for such a rich vein of form. The winger scored a hattrick on debut, winning the man of the match accolade as a result, and scored once more in his second start against Tonga in the Autumn Internationals. He is now in the extended Six Nations squad, having scored five tries in the Premiership so far this season.
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Mark Atkinson
Manu Tuilagi started in England’s 69-3 thrashing of Tonga and was replaced by the 31-year-old Mark Atkinson in the second half. The substitution gave the Gloucester man a long-awaited England debut after he impressed in the Premiership. The centre did not feature in any Autumn Internationals but remains in selection contention and was named in Jones’s Six Nations squad.
Alex Mitchell
Alex Mitchell came close to making his England debut at the end of the 2020 Six Nations, replacing the injury Willi Heinz at scrum half in the extended squad. However, he had to wait until October 2021 to make his full test debut against Tonga, coming off the bench in place of the injured Harry Randall. Mitchell scored a try in that game but has not worn the red rose since, failing to make the 2022 Six Nations squad.
Bevan Rodd
Loosehead prop Bevan Rodd made a surprise England debut in the autumn against Australia, stepping in for the unavailable Ellis Genge and Joe Marler. The 21-year-old Sale Sharks player then started in his second international against the world champions South Africa, holding his own opposite a formidable Springbok scrum. Performances in the autumn earnt Rodd a spot in Jones’s Six Nations squad but he has not been picked for matchday so far.
Raffi Quirke
Raffi Quirke became the youngest scrum half to play for England in 90 years after he replaced Ben Youngs against Australia in the Autumn Nations Series. The 20-year-old Sale Sharks scrum half came off the bench once more against South Africa, scoring a decisive try in a tight 27-26 victory. Quirke’s performances have clearly made an impression, as he was named in the initial training squad for the 2022 Six Nations.
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Nic Dolly
Australian born Nic Dolly qualifies to play for England through his mother and made use of that in the autumn to earn his international debut off the bench against South Africa. The 22-year-old hooker has totalled six Premiership tries for the Leicester Tigers this season but that was not enough to secure a spot in England’s Six Nations squad.
Ollie Chessum
Ollie Chessum, another Tigers forward, is the latest player to make his debut for England. The versatile second row came on last weekend against Italy, replacing captain Tom Curry in the back row. Chessum has featured 14 times for the Tigers this season and is a confident ball-carrier and proficient lineout jumper.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments