Sale flanker Tom Curry has been named in England coach Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad for the upcoming tour of Japan and New Zealand, marking his return after a significant hip injury that has limited his playtime since last year’s Rugby World Cup. The squad also includes seven players from the Premiership champions, Northampton Saints.
Curry, who has only played just over half an hour of rugby since his injury, is included alongside his twin brother, Ben Curry. Despite concerns from his club coach Alex Sanderson about managing his return, Tom Curry is set to participate in the demanding tour.
Among the Northampton contingent is uncapped wing Ollie Sleightholme, who made an impact by scoring a try in the Premiership final win over Bath. Other uncapped players include Harlequins prop Fin Baxter, centre Luke Northmore, Sale back-three players Joe Carpenter and Tom Roebuck, and Bristol hooker Gabriel Oghre.
England will face Japan on June 22 before taking on the All Blacks in two tests on July 6 and 13. Coach Borthwick emphasized the challenges ahead: “The Summer Series presents a valuable opportunity for the continued development of this squad and is a demanding challenge to conclude the season. With the changes in climate, playing conditions, and contrasting styles of rugby from the two opponents we face, we will be challenged on and off the field.”
Borthwick also highlighted the importance of the tour for younger players: “For some of the younger players, it will be their first time touring abroad with England. Travelling together is a great way to build closer bonds and provides an important opportunity for new players to settle into our environment.”
The squad features three scrum-halves: Bristol’s Harry Randall, and Premiership finalists Ben Spencer and Alex Mitchell. With George Ford unavailable, the fly-half duties will be handled by Marcus Smith and Fin Smith, with full-back George Furbank providing additional cover.
England’s tour includes a match against Japan in Tokyo, followed by games against New Zealand in Dunedin and Auckland, aiming to become the first side since 1994 to win a Test match at Eden Park.
Borthwick added, “The National Stadium in Tokyo is an incredible venue for Test match rugby, and we will need to be at our very best against a Japanese team who will want to play fast. New Zealand’s home record is well documented, and we face a team who came within one point of winning a World Cup. Historically, it is not a place England have had much success, but we are determined to change that.”
England Squad for Japan and New Zealand Tour
Forwards:
– Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
– Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
– Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
– Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
– Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
– Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
– Theo Dan (Saracens)
– Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
– Ben Earl (Saracens)
– Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
– Jamie George (Saracens) – captain
– Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
– Maro Itoje (Saracens)
– Joe Marler (Harlequins)
– George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
– Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears)
– Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
– Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
– Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
– Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs:
– Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
– Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
– Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
– Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
– George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
– Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
– Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
– Luke Northmore (Harlequins)
– Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
– Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
– Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
– Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
– Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
– Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
– Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
– Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
