Four Northampton Saints players have been included in England’s first matchday squad of their summer tour against Japan this weekend.
Fresh from playing key roles in securing a first Gallagher Premiership title in a decade for the men in Black, Green and Gold earlier this month, George Furbank, Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell all go from the start in Tokyo on Saturday (kick-off 6.50am BST).
Fly-half Fin Smith, who earned his first two England caps during the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, is named amongst the replacements.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing Japan at their National Stadium,” said head coach Steve Borthwick.
“Conditions in Tokyo mean we’ll need to be accurate, keep our discipline, and maintain a level of intensity in our performance from the first whistle to the last.
“We will need to be at our very best against an opponent who will want to play fast.”
ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE JAPAN
Saturday 22 June, 2024
National Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 6.50am
15 George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 9 caps)
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 62 caps) - vice-captain
12 Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
11 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 32 caps)
9 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
1 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 5 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 90 caps) – captain
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 81 caps) - vice-captain
5 George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
6 Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 4 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
8 Ben Earl (Saracens, 30 caps) - vice-captain
Replacements:
16 Theo Dan (Saracens, 12 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 93 caps) - vice-captain
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
19 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
20 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
21 Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
22 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
23 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
England’s Summer Series
- Japan v England, Saturday 22 June, National Stadium, kick-off 6.50am BST (RugbyPass TV)
- New Zealand v England, Saturday 6 July, Forsyth Barr Stadium, kick-off 8.05am BST (Sky Sports)
- New Zealand v England, Saturday 13 July, Eden Park, kick-off 8.05am BST (Sky Sports)
