Joe Marchant recalled to England squad after return from Stade Francais

Joe Marchant has earned an England recall, three years after his last Test appearance. The Sale Sharks centre is in Steve Borthwick’s 36-man training squad for the Nations Championship, which gathered at Pennyhill Park on Sunday.

The 30-year-old last played for England at the 2023 World Cup. His move to Stade Francais straight after the tournament put him out of contention, because England only select players based in the Prem. His return to English rugby with Sale this summer made him eligible again.

Joe Marchant’s England return after three years in Paris

Marchant spent three seasons with Stade Francais in the Top 14. He has said the move was partly prompted by conversations with former England head coach Eddie Jones in 2022, when he was told he was not fitting the mould. Jones left soon afterwards, and Marchant played his way into Borthwick’s World Cup squad before heading to France.

He made clear on his return to the Prem that he had unfinished business. “I want to play for England, that’s what I want to do,” he said in September. “I’m proud to have played for England and I don’t want it to be my last time at that World Cup. I want to play again.”

The recall has been earned. Marchant and his Sale team-mate Courtney Lawes were both left out of Borthwick’s September camp and told to prove their form at club level first.

No place for Courtney Lawes

Lawes, 37, has not been included. The former England captain joined Sale from French side Brive in the summer and said he was “officially un-retiring” from international rugby, but for now his wait goes on.

England’s centre options

Marchant joins a midfield group of Henry Slade, Max Ojomoh, Fraser Dingwall and Gloucester’s Will Joseph. Joseph, 24, has one cap, which came as a late replacement in England’s 25-17 second-Test win over Australia in Brisbane in July 2022.

Benhard Janse van Rensburg misses out with concussion, while Chandler Cunningham-South is set to miss the November Tests after needing ankle surgery, The Independent reported.

England Nations Championship squad in full

Position	Players
Props	Fin Baxter, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Emmanuel Iyogun, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Will Stuart
Hookers	Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kepueli Tuipulotu*
Locks	Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Maro Itoje (capt), George Martin
Back row	Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock
Scrum-halves	Archie McParland*, Alex Mitchell, Jack van Poortvliet
Fly-halves	Charlie Atkinson, George Ford, Marcus Smith
Centres	Fraser Dingwall, Will Joseph, Joe Marchant, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade
Back three	Noah Caluori, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Cadan Murley, Freddie Steward

*Uncapped. Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Guy Pepper are in camp continuing injury rehabilitation.

Updated on 26 October: Charlie Atkinson replaced Fin Smith, who withdrew with a calf injury.

Captain Maro Itoje returns after being rested in the summer, and Fin Baxter is back after almost a year out with a foot injury. Ben Curry and Tom Pearson return to the back-row mix, while Bath scrum-half Ben Spencer misses out. Read our full breakdown of the England rugby squad, including every return and omission.

What happens next for England?

The squad returns to clubs on Tuesday ahead of the next round of Premiership rugby. England then open their November series at Twickenham:

• England v Australia – Sunday 8 November
• England v Japan – Saturday 14 November
• England v New Zealand – Saturday 21 November

Nations Championship finals weekend follows on 27-29 November in London, with fixtures still to be confirmed.

Your questions answered

Is Joe Marchant back in the England squad?

Yes. Marchant is in Steve Borthwick’s 36-man training squad for the Nations Championship, his first England selection since the 2023 World Cup. Being in the training squad does not guarantee a place in a matchday 23.

Why couldn’t Joe Marchant play for England?

England only select players based in the Prem. Marchant was ineligible while playing for Stade Francais in France, and became available again after joining Sale Sharks.

When do England play next?

England face Australia at Twickenham on Sunday 8 November, then Japan on Saturday 14 November and New Zealand on Saturday 21 November.

Follow all the latest in our rugby hub, including Henry Pollock’s derby flashpoint with his England team-mates.