Jamie George has been named England captain for the Nations Championship tour, with Steve Borthwick confirming a 36-man squad for Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
The Saracens hooker will lead the group while Maro Itoje is rested, giving England an experienced figurehead for a demanding July schedule. Borthwick has also included five uncapped players: Noah Caluori, Greg Fisilau, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, George Kloska and Vilikesa Sela.
The selection, detailed in a fresh update from The Guardian, comes with England trying to stabilise after a difficult run and before three very different assignments across Johannesburg, Liverpool and Santiago del Estero.
George gives Borthwick control before a brutal tour
George’s return as captain is the clearest sign that Borthwick wants authority and familiarity around a squad that still contains genuine development pieces. The uncapped forwards add energy, while Caluori and Van Rensburg give the backline fresh options.
The key question is whether England can balance that new blood with enough Test certainty. South Africa away is the harshest possible start, Fiji will bring a different physical and attacking threat, and Argentina will test England’s travel legs at the end of the run.
For George, this is more than a caretaker armband. It is a chance to steady England’s standards before the wider 2027 World Cup cycle starts to harden.
