Steve Borthwick reveals core of England squad as…

Steve Borthwick reveals core of England squad as enhanced contracts handed out

Alex Coles has earned an enhanced EPS England contract - (PA Archive)

Steve Borthwick has handed out enhanced England contracts to five new faces as the core of his squad is revealed with a year to go until the Rugby World Cup.

The England head coach is permitted to hand out 25 deals, believed to be worth in excess of £150,000 per year, each season in an agreement that grants him greater control over the group of players.

Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Northampton lock Alex Coles, Bath flanker Guy Pepper, Leicester scrum half Jack van Poortvliet and Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson join the list of contracted players.

Tom Willis drops off after his move to Bordeaux Begles rendered him ineligible for international selection, with Sale’s Ben Curry and Tom Roebuck, versatile Saracens back Elliot Daly and out-of-favour Bath centre Ollie Lawrence losing their contracts.

George Furbank, who has swapped Northampton for Harlequins this summer, retains a deal despite having not featured for England since November 2024 amid a horror injury run. Furbank was due to start against South Africa in July, only to be ruled out with appendicitis.

The addition of Opoku-Fordjour to the contracted props highlights how well regarded the youngster is, with his capacity to play on both sides of the scrum likely to be highly valuable come next year’s World Cup.

Coles, meanwhile, enjoyed a breakthrough year internationally and was a key figure in Northampton’s Prem title win, while Pepper and Atkinson established themselves as regulars in the back row and centres respectively.

England return to action in November with Nations Championship games against Australia, Japan and New Zealand. They will also play on finals weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.