England head coach Steve Borthwick has named his squad for the Six Nations as his team eye up the title for the first time since 2020. The 45-year-old has made eight changes compared to the squad he named ahead of England’s final Autumn Nations Series clash with Japan in November.

Steve Borthwick faces arguably the most important run of games in his tenure so far – selection is the first thing he must get right

England coach Steve Borthwick said having a captain who could last the whole match had been a factor in his decision to appoint Maro Itoje as skipper for the Six Nations in place of Jamie George. Both Saracens forwards were included in a 36-man England squad for the tournament announced on Tuesday.

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as captain while uncapped Cadan Murley and Oscar Beard are named in England's Six Nations squad.

Steve Borthwick has backed Maro Itoje to lead England into the 2027 Rugby World Cup and said it is his capability to be calm in the face of pressure which has seen him elevated to captain of the team.

Maro Itoje is not your average rugby player. The newly-appointed England rugby captain is too smart for that. When we last spoke to him, he arrived at the Men’s Health shoot clutching a history book.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has backed ‘world-class’ Maro Itoje to succeed as England captain, and feels it is also a long-term appointment with one eye on the 2027 World Cup. Itoje was named captain for the upcoming Six Nations yesterday,

As part of our 'Talking Heads' series, contributing writer Alastair Campbell sat down with the England rugby star