England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, has made significant adjustments to his squad in preparation for the Rugby World Cup in Australia, omitting Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly from the 25-man central contract list. Neither Lawrence nor Daly participated in England’s recent summer Tests, although both were active during the Six Nations. Lawrence’s exclusion is particularly noteworthy given his standout performance in a previous victory against New Zealand.
New faces in the squad include Northampton’s Alex Coles and Sale’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour, with Seb Atkinson, Guy Pepper, and Jack van Poortvliet also earning contracts after missing out last year. Daly, once praised for his versatility by Borthwick, is notably absent. Despite this, the 33-year-old remains in contention for the broader World Cup squad, which will feature 33 players.
The removal of Lawrence and Daly intensifies competition for places in England’s midfield and back-three. Atkinson emerges as a strong candidate for the inside-centre position, while Opoku-Fordjour’s capability to operate on both sides of the scrum enhances his appeal. Additionally, veterans like Courtney Lawes and newcomer Benhard van Rensburg were not selected for central contracts. However, Lawes is still available for selection after his return to England, while van Rensburg made his international debut in the summer.
England’s central contracts, valued at approximately £150,000 annually, offer the national team greater control over player preparation. The latest selections by Borthwick provide insight into the players who are central to his World Cup strategy. This reshuffling underscores the evolving dynamics within the squad as England positions itself for the upcoming global tournament.