Curry twins to start together in England back row

Men’s Six Nations: Ireland v England

Venue: Aviva Stadium Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 16: 45 GMT

Tom and Ben Curry, who were chosen as the starting flankers for England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland on Saturday, will play together for the first time.

The Sale pair, 26, will start either side of number eight Ben Earl, with back-row options Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South and Tom Willis on a bench containing six forwards.

Ollie Sleightholme is preferred to play left-handed wing Cadan Murley, while Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, an Exeter flier, was left after dislocating his shoulder.

In place of George Furbank, who was injured, Alex Mitchell has recovered from a knee injury to play scrum-half, with Marcus Smith playing fly-half and Freddie Steward playing full-back.

After Jamie George’s hamstring issue forced him to miss the game, Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker while Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence continue their midfield partnership.

Tom Curry made his first start for England in more than 90 years when he started against Argentina in 2017 as an 18-year-old.

Ben had to wait longer after being chosen ahead of Tom for a game against the Barbarians earlier that summer but withdrew due to a back injury.

Tom was selected for the British and Irish Lions and had already represented him in the World Cup final after winning the first of his six caps against the United States in 2021.

Regardless Ben, the older brother by 90 minutes, described the occasion as “very special”.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday that when he returned home, he noticed one of his classmates wearing an England shirt in his room.

“Everything has led up to this moment”.

Emma and Jane Mitchell were the first twin brothers to play for England, and Poppy and Bryony Cleall have recently joined the Red Roses side that won the Rugby World Cup.

After a stellar season with Saracens, Tom Willis, who made his debut against Wales in a warm-up game in 2023, is ready to earn his only other cap off the bench.

The 26-year-old, whose older brother Jack is outside of England eligibility at French side Toulouse, has topped the Premiership stats for defenders beaten and gain-line carries, while also appearing in the league-wide top 10 for turnovers, tackles and metres made.

He told Rugby Union Weekly, “As a squad Saracens have said to us to restore the enjoyment to things.”

“We’ve done really well as a forward pack, and that has freed me up to do what I do.”

He claims that his approach to the test game won’t get complicated.

“I try and get through as much work and battles as possible”, he added.