Steve Borthwick's first England side has some very familiar names for rugby fans across St Albans and Harpenden.

England host Scotland at Twickenham in their opening match of the 2023 Six Nations and among the squad are those who once graced the shirts of Harpenden, Old Albanian and Verulamians.

Max Malins, once on loan at OAs, returns on the wing while Maro Itoje, another who had a spell at Woollams after starting his career with Harpenden St George's school and Harpenden Rugby Club, wins his 63rd cap in the second row.

Another ex-Georgian, Owen Farrell, will captain the side from inside-centre while a third ex-Albanian, as well as a former junior at Verulamians and former pupil of Nicholas Breakspear, Nick Isiekwe, is named on the bench.

Borthwick said: "There are few fixtures in the rugby calendar that excite both players and supporters alike more than the Six Nations meeting of the Auld Enemy as they battle for the honour of lifting the Calcutta Cup.

"Another packed Twickenham will witness the start of the next chapter of English rugby in one of the most keenly contested tournaments in the world.

"There is no doubt that this England team shares the supporters’ sense of eager anticipation.

"To a man, the players are determined to play with the commitment, fight and desire that is at the very heart of representing England, the sort of passion that our tremendous supporters rightly expect."

 

England squad to play Scotland
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 14 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 13 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 101 caps) (C)
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 17 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 43 caps) (VC)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 72 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 62 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks,1 cap)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps)

Substitutes
16. Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 8 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Saracens, 13 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 121 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)
23. Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps)