Head coach Steve Borthwick has once again gone early with his team announcement for the Six Nations 2026 squad’s trip to Scotland, as his side chase a first Calcutta Cup victory in Edinburgh since 2020.

He’s mostly kept faith with the 23 that comfortably beat Wales at Twickenham last weekend, the only new addition being fly-half Fin Smith coming on to the bench in place of namesake Marcus.

There are a couple of swaps within the matchday squad, however, with regular England captain Maro Itoje returning to skipper the side from the second row, and Luke Cowan-Dickie coming into the side at hooker. Alex Coles and Jamie George drop to the bench to make way.

Cowan-Dickie is joined in the front row by Ellis Genge (one of two named vice-captains in the 23) and Joe Heyes, while Itoje packs down alongside Ollie Chessum in the second row. Bath duo Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill start at flanker, with Ben Earl at number 8.

Tom Roebuck continues on the wing after coming in as a late replacement for the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ahead of the Wales match, with last week’s hat-trick hero Henry Arundell on the opposite wing. Full-back Freddie Steward completes the back three.

Inside them there’s a Northampton Saints centre partnership of Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman, Last week’s player of the match, George Ford (another vice-captain) continues in the number 10 shirt, alongside scrum-half Alex Mitchell.

• Related: All you need to know about the 2026 Six Nations Championship

Borthwick has stuck with a 6-2 bench, of Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer and Fin Smith.

“Playing Scotland at Murrayfield is always a fantastic occasion and a challenge we are relishing,” said Borthwick. “We made a pleasing start to the championship, but we understand that we must continue to raise our standards. The squad has trained with focus and determination this week, and we’re excited for the opportunity to test ourselves again on Saturday.”

England v Scotland kicks off at 4.40pm GMT on Saturday 14 February, with live coverage on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.

• Read more: How to watch the Six Nations 2026 from anywhere

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England Six Nations team v Scotland – round 2

15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl

Replacements (6-2 split):
16. Jamie George
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Alex Coles
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Fin Smith

England Six Nations team v Wales – round 1

15. Freddie Steward
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Henry Arundell
10. George Ford (vice-captain)
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (captain)
3. Joe Heyes
4. Alex Coles
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Guy Pepper
7. Sam Underhill
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Maro Itoje
20. Tom Curry
21. Henry Pollock
22. Ben Spencer
23. Marcus Smith

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England Six Nations squad 2026: the 36 players selected by Steve Borthwick

Forwards (20): Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), Ben Earl (Saracens), Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens, captain), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs (16): Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

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England Six Nations squad: 2026 fixtures at a glance

• Sat 7 February, England 48 v 7 Wales 
• Sat 14 February, Scotland v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 21 February, England v Ireland (kick-off 2.10pm GMT, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 7 March, Italy v England (kick-off 4.40pm GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome) Live on ITV in the UK
• Sat 14 March, France v England (kick-off 8.10pm GMT, Stade de France, Paris) Live on ITV in the UK

• Read more: Men’s Six Nations fixtures 2026

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England Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2025

Round 1: v Ireland (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Result: Ireland 27-22 England

Starting XV:
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Theo Dan
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Tom Willis
22. Harry Randall
23. Fin Smith

Round 2: v France (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 26-25 France

Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly

Round 3: v Scotland (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 16-15 Scotland

Starting XV:
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly

Round 4: v Italy (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham)

Result: England 47-24 Italy

Starting XV:

15. Elliot Daly
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (vice-captain)
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith

Round 5: v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)

Result: Wales 14-68 England

15. Marcus Smith
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Elliot Daly
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell

1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl

Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Henry Pollock
21. Tom Willis
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. George Ford

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