Owen Farrell and Tom Willis miss out on Steve Borthwick’s 36-man England training squad ahead of Quilter Nations Series

Former England captain Owen Farrell has missed out on Steve Borthwick's squad for a three-day training camp ahead of Quilter Nations Series encounters with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina. The 34-year-old was not included despite an injury to Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson. Meanwhile, Tom Willis was dropped after it was announced he would be leaving Saracens at the end of the season.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Owen Farrell and Tom Willis have both missed out on the England squad ahead of the Quilter Nations Series, which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Former captain Farrell, who has not played for England since the 2023 World Cup, was not included in Steve Borthwick’s selection for a three-day training camp ahead of encounters with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina.

The 34-year-old missed out despite an injury to Gloucester centre Seb Atkinson.

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Instead, Borthwick has stuck with Fin Smith, George Ford and Marcus Smith as his fly-half options.

Meanwhile, Willis was left out of England’s training squad after Saracens confirmed on Saturday that the No. 8 would be leaving at the end of the season, with a deal said to have been agreed for the player to sign for French side Bordeaux-Begles.

Players based outside of England are ineligible for international selection.

The move looks a blow to Borthwick, who started Willis on five occasions this year, including in both victories on the tour of Argentina in July.

Elsewhere, teenager Noah Caluori, who scored five tries for Saracens against Sale, will join up with England to aid his development, though he has not officially been named as part of the squad.

Highlights: Ruthless Caluori shines as Saracens claim dominant win over Sale

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports pundits Sam Warburton and Chris Ashton were stunned by the 19-year-old’s ability both in the air and on the ground against Sale.

"I haven't seen a player this good in the air, ever, and he's a teenager," said Warburton. "Get him in the England squad. He's got it. This kid is going to be amazing."

Former England winger Chris Ashton added: "He'll only need 20 games to get [my] record if he plays like that.

"I've seen his ability in the air, but he's gliding past players with ease, which you don't see very often. He's scored three or four really good tries, you might get one [normally].

"He's in a great team and, yes, Sale went down to 14 men, but in the first half, Sale didn't know how to deal with his ability in the air. To get five tries on your first start is... I'm lost for words. It is that good. Has he set the bar too high?"

England squad

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)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs

Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks)
Adam Radwan (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+

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