England head coach Steve Borthwick has announced his match-day squad for the highly anticipated clash against South Africa this Saturday at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. While no Bath players have been named in the starting XV, three forwards from Bath Rugby feature on the bench, including the returning loosehead prop Beno Obano.
Obano makes his first England appearance in the match-day 23 since his last start on February 3, 2024, against Italy in the Six Nations. Alongside Obano, Bath’s lock Charlie Ewels and flanker Guy Pepper are also selected as replacements, highlighting Bath Rugby’s strong contribution to the squad.
Notably absent from this fixture are Bath players Max Ojomoh, Ben Spencer, and Billy Sela, who remain part of the wider squad for the upcoming summer internationals.
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Captaincy responsibility lies with Saracens hooker Jamie George, supported by vice-captains Ollie Chessum and Ellis Genge. Borthwick expressed enthusiasm about the challenge ahead: “Playing South Africa at Ellis Park is one of the great Tests in world rugby and an opportunity we’re excited to embrace. The squad has prepared thoroughly since arriving last week, and there’s a real eagerness to kick off our Nations Championship campaign.”
Following the Ellis Park encounter, England will host Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, before facing Argentina at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero for Round 3. All matches of the inaugural Nations Championship will be available live on ITV Sport, with Saturday’s kick-off scheduled for 4.40pm.
England squad to face South Africa:
15. George Furbank (Harlequins, 14 caps)
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 13 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 27 caps)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 4 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 6 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 16 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
- Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 80 caps) – Vice-Captain
- Jamie George (Saracens, 110 caps) – Captain
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
- Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
- George Martin (Saracens, 21 caps)
- Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps) – Vice-Captain
- Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 68 caps)
- Ben Earl (Saracens, 51 caps)
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 58 caps)
17. Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 34 caps)
20. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
22. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 30 caps)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 50 caps)