ENGLAND TRIO AMONG SEVEN SHARKS ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
England men’s head coach Steve Borthwick has named three Sharks in his team to face Japan in Round Five of the Nations Championship on Saturday 14 November at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (kick-off 4.40pm GMT).
George Ford, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Asher Opoku-Fordjour will all feature from the off against Eddie Jones’s team, while Ben Curry will begin the game from the bench.
Elsewhere, Nicky Smith will start for Wales against New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (KO 2.10pm) and Ponipate Loganimasi will start for Fiji against Ireland later that evening (KO 8.10pm). Elia Canakaivata has been named on the bench for the Aviva Stadium clash.
©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
For England, Maro Itoje captains a side featuring 10 personnel changes to the starting XV that beat Australia last Sunday.
Ellis Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, George Martin, Henry Pollock, vice- captain Ford, Will Joseph, Max Ojomoh, Cadan Murley and Freddie Steward all come into the starting line-up.
Elsewhere, scrum-half Archie McParland is set to make his England debut off the bench.
“Japan are a very well-coached side who will challenge us in different ways, and we know we’ll need to bring intensity throughout the game,” said Borthwick.
“The atmosphere at Allianz Stadium last week was incredible. The players really fed off the energy in the stadium, and we’re really looking forward to being back on Saturday.”
On McParland’s potential debut, Borthwick added:
“We’re all delighted for Archie. He’s had some bad luck with injury, so it’s especially pleasing to be able to name him in an England matchday 23 for the first time. He’s an outstanding young talent who has worked hard to get to this point, and we’re all excited to see how he goes.”
Following the Japan fixture, England take on New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Round 6 before Finals Weekend from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November.
All of England’s Nations Championship fixtures will be broadcast live and exclusively on ITV1.
ENGLAND v JAPAN
Saturday 14 November 2026, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Kick-off: 4.40pm GMT
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 44 caps)
14. Will Joseph (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 78 caps)
12. Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, 2 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 7 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 108 caps) – vice-captain
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 28 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 84 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 62 caps)
3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 8 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 103 caps) – captain
5. George Martin (Saracens, 25 caps)
6. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 23 caps)
7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 55 caps)
8. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 20 caps)
17. Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps)
19. Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
20. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 15 caps)
21. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
22. Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 54 caps)
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