No Farrell or Willis in 36-man England training squad

After being cut out of head coach Steve Borthwick’s initial preparations for the autumn internationals, former England captain Owen Farrell will continue his two-year absence from the team.

Tom Willis, the eighth-string player for the Saracens, was also left out after his club announced that he would leave for Bordeaux in France at the end of the season.

Emeka Ilione, a former England Under-20s captain and Leicester backrower, has been given a call-up, and Noah Caluori, a 19-year-old Saracens wing, has been invited to join training after scoring five tries in Sale’s Premiership debut on Saturday.

Farrell, who has 112 caps, made his return to the test this summer when he rejoined Saracens from Racing 92 in France.

Seb Atkinson, who started in both Tests against Argentina in July and was injured, might have re-entered the set-up for Farrell, who has been playing midfield in all four of his Prem starts this year.

Instead of choosing his midfield options at Borthwick, who has the Achilles tendon injury he suffered against Italy in March, has the options of Northampton’s Fraser Dingwall and Exeter’s Henry Slade, as well as Bath’s Ollie Lawrence, who has recovered more quickly than expected.

One of the 37 players, including Caluori, will play for the three-day training camp at the start of the week. Tommy Freeman, who is typically on the wing, started at 13 when England won 68-14 against Wales in Cardiff in their final Six Nations game.

Next weekend, England’s autumn campaign, which includes meetings with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina, will be named a 36-man squad.

Farrell last played for England in the 2023 Rugby World Cup third-place play-off victory over Argentina.

Before crossing the Channel to play in France in the summer of 2024, he opted to avoid the following Six Nations campaign “to prioritize his and his family’s mental well-being.”

Farrell was called up for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia after playing for the final two Tests despite having a frustrating year in the Top 14 that was plagued by injury and indifferent form.

Henry Arundell, a Bath wing, who last appeared for England in 2023 and like Farrell, has also been included.

In his first four games playing for his hometown team, the 22-year-old has scored three tries.

Willis is currently ineligible as a result of reports that he will soon relocate to France.

In Saracens, he has won eight international caps and has become a part of the England setup.

Forwards

Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Asher Opoku-

Backs