In a significant shake-up of England’s rugby squad, head coach Steve Borthwick has excluded Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly from the 25-man central contract list as he prepares for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia. Although Lawrence and Daly participated in the Six Nations, neither appeared in England’s summer Tests, marking a notable shift in Borthwick’s strategy. Lawrence’s absence is particularly striking, given his standout performance in England’s previous victory over New Zealand.
Joining the central contract list are Northampton forward Alex Coles and Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, indicating Borthwick’s focus on fresh talent. The list also welcomes Seb Atkinson, Guy Pepper, and Jack van Poortvliet, who were overlooked in the previous year. Daly’s exclusion is surprising, especially given his ability to play multiple positions and the positive remarks Borthwick has made about the 33-year-old in the past. Despite being left off the central contract list, Daly could still be part of the larger World Cup squad, which will comprise 33 players.
This decision intensifies the competition for positions in England’s midfield and back-three, with Atkinson emerging as a strong candidate for the inside-centre role. Meanwhile, Opoku-Fordjour’s versatility in handling both sides of the scrum bolsters his standing within the team. Other notable absentees include Courtney Lawes and South African-born centre Benhard van Rensburg. Lawes remains eligible for selection after his return to England, and van Rensburg made his international debut in the summer, though neither secured a central contract this time.
The central contracts, valued at approximately £150,000 per season, afford England greater influence over player preparation. The latest selections by Borthwick offer a glimpse into the players most likely to feature in his World Cup plans. As the squad takes shape, the adjustments signify a strategic realignment aimed at optimizing England’s prospects on the global stage.