England Six Nations Team Announcement: Henry Pollock and Henry Arundell to Start Against Ireland (2026)

England Six Nations team announcement: Henry Pollock and Henry Arundell to start against Ireland

1. Recap: England team headlines

• Henry Pollock will make his first Test start, while British and Irish Lion Tom Curry also comes into the starting team.
• Centre Ollie Lawrence returns after missing out on selection for Saturday's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield.
• Henry Arundell retains his place on the wing after avoiding a ban for his red card against Scotland
• Captain Maro Itoje will win his 100th cap.

Full team:

Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Pollock.

Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Van Poortvliet, M Smith.

1. 'We have so much respect for Ireland'

• England head coach Steve Borthwick told the BBC about Ireland: "They have most of the Lions coaching team, half of the Lions Test team. They play together so often with so many players at Leinster, this squad has been together for a long period of time."

1. 'Itoje is an icon'

• England head coach Steve Borthwick has told the BBC on Maro Itoje winning his 100th cap: "First of all he is an incredibly towering presence in English rugby. Talk about icons and superstars of the game, he is tremendous and I am so delighted for him to achieve his 100th cap this weekend."

1. Jack's back

• Jack van Poortvliet has been included in a matchday squad for the first time in this Six Nations.

1. 'How are you mate?' Pollock's first words surprise Borthwick

• England head coach Steve Borthwick told the BBC about the time he first met Henry Pollock: "I went up to Northampton to meet the England players there and I was told that I should connect with Henry Pollock and at that time he was barely out of school, he hadn't played a first-team game at that point but clearly with the pathway system they said you should meet Pollock. All the reports from the pathway was that this guy is going to be exceptional."

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• Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

1. Off-days for Underhill and Pepper

• Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill have both dropped to the bench to face Ireland after the Bath duo had off-days against Scotland.

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• Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

1. 'I have stayed in touch with James Ryan'

• Tom Curry will be coming up against some of his British and Irish Lions team-mates from last summer's tour of Australia.

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• Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

1. Curry resumes first-choice role

• Tom Curry made his England debut as an 18-year-old against Argentina in 2017 and has recently reverted to a role as a finisher.

1. Furbank fully fit

• England head coach Steve Borthwick has confirmed to the BBC that Northampton Saints full-back George Furbank is fully fit and available for selection.

1. Furbank's up-and-down England career

• George Furbank has endured a tough time with injuries and an up-and-down international career.

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• Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

1. England's misfiring Murrayfield attack

• England's attack has generally been on an upward trajectory in the past year, particularly following the arrival of attack coach Lee Blackett.

1. 'Arundell was bitterly disappointed'

• England head coach Steve Borthwick has told the BBC about backing Henry Arundell: "He has come back [from France club rugby] because he wants to play for England. He played a little bit in the autumn but been asked to work on key aspects of his game. He has gone away with the backs coach and worked on those aspects."

1. England team headlines

• In case you're just joining us, here are the top lines from England's team announcement:

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• Henry Pollock will make his first Test start, while British and Irish Lion Tom Curry also comes into the starting team.

• Centre Ollie Lawrence returns after missing out on selection for Saturday's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield.

• Henry Arundell retains his place on the wing after avoiding a ban for his red card against Scotland

• Captain Maro Itoje will win his 100th cap.

1. Get involved

• Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

1. Itoje then and now (via the Lions of course)

• From England debut under Eddie Jones in the 2016 Six Nations to current England captain set to win his 100th cap.