With 2026 now upon us, Planet Rugby looks at the full England depth chart heading into the new year. First up, it’s the backline.
Full-back
Full-back is emerging as a slight headache for Borthwick right now, with his two leading options both in good form. George Furbank does seem the likely front-runner heading into 2026, with the Saints man fully back up and running now after a tough year of injuries. His playmaking ability in the backfield also fits exactly what England want out of their 15 at the moment.
Freddie Steward will certainly be hot on his toes, though, with the Leicester man in really good touch at the moment for both club and country. The changes in his attacking game are already well documented, but he really seems to be coming on leaps and bounds in both his running game and his playmaking skills, which fit what Borthwick wants from his full-back, but is also one of England’s best players in the air.
Northampton’s George Hendy is arguably the form player in the PREM right now, dazzling in an exciting Northampton attack. He just seems to consistently pop up in different spaces on the pitch, where he can use his pace and power to burst through holes. His fluidity in games, darting between wing, full-back and even centre at times, could also give this England attack an even greater edge.
Elliot Daly’s return to full fitness during the autumn means he will again be in contention for a Test spot, and as he proved on the Lions tour before picking up his injury, he is certainly a top-notch 15.
Marcus Smith has also dabbled with full-back this year, often leaving him frustrated, but he will likely be an option to play here again in 2026, while summer debutant Joe Carpenter is also in the mix and should be nearing a return to action in the early stages of the year.
1. George Furbank
2. Freddie Steward
3. George Hendy
4. Elliot Daly
5. Marcus Smith
6. Joe Carpenter
Wing
England are absolutely blessed with wingers right now, but there are three real front-runners for the starting shirt in the form of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck.
Exeter man Feyi-Waboso has hit the ground running this season, following months on the sidelines. His genuine pace, mixed with his power and desire to come off his wing in an eerily similar way to fellow Exeter man Jack Nowell in his prime, just adds a completely different dynamic to the attack, but yet it blends really nicely with the kicking strategy.
That kicking strategy also brings the very best out of Freeman and Roebuck, who will be vying for the number 14 shirt in 2026. Both men have excelled at Test level in 2025, with Roebuck taking the chance afforded to him in the summer and autumn, while Freeman shone across the Six Nations and Lions tour too, so it will be a really tough choice between them. Freeman has dabbled with a move to 13, too, which could make Borthwick’s job a touch easier regarding his wingers.