Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes have both been named captain of their countries as England face Wales at Twickenham, with the Northampton Saints duo the first to go head to head as international captains in the Club’s history.
In Five/Six Nations history, the same Club has supplied both captains for a fixture on just five occasions – with Saturday’s clash marking the first time in Saints’ 142-year history that two players from the Club have skippered two international sides in a match.
Fly-half Biggar will make his 98th appearance in a Wales shirt at Twickenham, while Lawes returns from injury to lead England on his 91st cap at blindside flanker.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac said: “Clearly everyone loves playing at home and it’s a first home game of the Guinness Six Nations for England. They will be tough opposition, they always are and both teams are still in this competition so there’s a lot at stake.
“It’s a big game. We had a great result against them last year but we’re going to have to play very, very well to get the same result this year.”
While England head coach Eddie Jones added: “We’ve prepared very well for this game, the squad have really come together on and off the pitch.
“Wales are a good, tough side and Six Nations champions and it will make for an exciting Test match in front of a full Twickenham crowd.
“We’ve got a talented, young, hungry squad who have trained with real intensity this week. We’re ready to go at them and can’t wait to play in front of our supporters again.”
ENGLAND vs WALES
Guinness Six Nations
Saturday 26 February, 2022
Kick-off: 4.45pm
England
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
14 Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps) (VC)
12 Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps)
9 Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
1 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps) (VC)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) (VC)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
4 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
5 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps) (C)
7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps) (VC)
8 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps)
Replacements:
16 Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps)
17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 76 caps)
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
19 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 5 caps)
20 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps)
22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
23 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps)
Wales
15 Liam Williams (Scarlets – 76 caps)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 49 caps)
13 Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 28 caps)
12 Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 18 caps)
11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 36 caps)
10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 97 caps), captain
9 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 31 caps)
1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 40 caps)
2 Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 25 caps)
3 Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 62 caps)
4 Will Rowlands (Dragons – 15 caps)
5 Adam Beard (Ospreys – 31 caps), vice-captain
6 Ross Moriarty (Dragons – 51 caps)
7 Taine Basham (Dragons – 9 caps)
8 Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 86 caps)
Replacements:
16 Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 2 cap)
17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 7 caps)
18 Leon Brown (Dragons – 20 caps)
19 Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
20 Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 1 cap)
21 Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 8 caps)
22 Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 29 caps)
23 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets – 94 caps)
