RugbyRebels

England Men’s A squad to face Ireland XV (club & Senior England caps)
Forwards
Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Joe Batley (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Zach Carr (Harlequins, uncapped)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 23 caps)
Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Tarek Haffar (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Will Hobson (Harlequins, uncapped)
George Kloska (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Sam Riley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)
Kepueli Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

Backs
Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Orlando Bailey (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Paul Brown-Bampoe (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
George Hendy (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Luke Northmore (Harlequins, 2 caps)
Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 14 caps)
Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
William Wand (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Unfortunately the game is being shown on the shit show that is Premier Sports.

LHs - Haffar, Hobson
HKs - Blamire, Riley, Tuipulotu
THs - Fasogbon, Kloska
LKs - Batley, Bamber, Lockett
BRs - Harding, Roots, Dombrandt, Carr
9s - Randall, Quirke
10s - C Atkinson, Bailey, Searle
Centres - Wand, Northmore, Ma'asi-White
B3 - Brown-Bampoe, OHC, Hendy

Nice to see Searle get a deserving nod for this one. Not sure about Carr and Dombrandt would have preferred Ilione and Green. Mind you Ilione is probably injured again.

Very pleased to see Will Wand included! Thoroughly deserved and love seeing players signed from the Champ making the step up.

I like Carr but he definitely feels like an addition because Ilione was a dipshit and went back on to the field injured.

Bailey being considered as a 12 now I guess.

Jibulu injured? Riley a strange pick- liked him at under 20 level but never kicked on.

Would have preferred Friday to Randall. I think everyone knows Randall will never be a test 9- particularly under Borthwick. Suppose they want to keep him captured so Wales can’t have him.

Bailey is a useful utility back. Is playing 15 tomorrow. Happy at 10 or 12 has even come off the bench and played 13. Could easily find himself in the 22 or 23 shirt.

Shocked to see so many Bristol players there, but not sure how Oghre isn't selected...

No Ogrhe, Jibulu, Hill, Barbeary, Reid, Clement, Bracken or Callouri. Mmmm....

Would have like to see Usher from NRB included and just for pulling on an England shirt which he should done by now, Val R-R.

But some good picks - Hobson, Carr, Searle, Wand and PBB are deserving .

I’m surprised not to see Oghre’s name in the squad. I don’t know the length of his contract with Bristol, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a French club were to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Weird squad … really not sure what the point of picking Dombrandt, Roots and Randall is?

You could make a decent XV from players who’ve been overlooked:

1. Obano
2. Oghre
3. Street
4. Tizard
5. Sodeke
6. T. Hill
7. Pearson
8. Barbeary
9. Bracken
10. Worsley
11. Muir
12. Woodward
13. O. Spencer
14. Caluori
15. de Glanville

Jibulu isn't in the Sale PRC squad so might not be fit. Bracken and Calouri are unlucky to miss out but I suspect OHC is the next cab off the rank and with Murley looking woeful Vs Tigers having OHC and Hendy in the A side they are there should they be needed. Bracken and Calouri are for the future.

Oghre is definitely unlucky. Not overly sure about Blamire or Riley are doing in there. Unless Blamire is fourth choice and we want to keep him match fit in case needed.

Really would take a fair few backrows over the Quins duo.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 8:43 pm Weird squad … really not sure what the point of picking Dombrandt, Roots and Randall is?

You could make a decent XV from players who’ve been overlooked:

Gods, I hadn't noticed that Caluori wasn't in the squad. Surely must be carrying an injury or something?

I understand Obano's absence in terms of going for younger, longer-term options, however it's hugely harsh on form and pretty much confirms that his international career is 100% done and dusted, no matter the number of injuries. Shame really.

No Barbeary or THill is astounding, especially since we already know Dombrandt will look good at a lower level and then struggle to front up against the best.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 2:22 pm Would have preferred Friday to Randall. I think everyone knows Randall will never be a test 9- particularly under Borthwick. Suppose they want to keep him captured so Wales can’t have him.

Same on Friday - I'd've had him as an apprentice to the main squad as well. He looks like he's got so much about him that he's destined for the very top. Blocking Randall from Wales feels mean-spirited, but it's probably the right thing to do - we don't necessarily want him, but he's good enough that we probably don't want to face him either.

Who would we pick from that lot? I'd go for:
Hobson
Blamire
Fasogbon
Batley
Bamber
Roots
Harding
Dombrandt

Quirke
Searle
OHC
Ma'asi-White
Northmore
Hendy
CAtkinson

Remind me, who's in charge of this lot? It's not Mapletoft, is it?

Puja

It is … I much preferred it when they were rotating the coaching staff.

Still, I’d back him to pick more than 6 backs

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 9:30 pm It is … I much preferred it when they were rotating the coaching staff.

Still, I’d back him to pick more than 6 backs

I just thought it was so obvious that Northmore would play 13 that it wasn't even worth mentioning! Still, I have edited so that it'll follow the mundane pedestrian standards of "naming the whole 15 players" that boring people seem to like.

Puja

It's a strange squad for me - not necessarily the next in line but also not the young tyros we want to get experience to step up.

How many of these guys are likely to play for the full side? Seems a shame not to include the likes of Friday, CBracken and Caluori.

That’s a really odd squad. Lots of better players missing out. The backrow choices are bizarre. Feels very meh.

I think Obano is just about looking at younger players. He was in the full squad in the autumn when Rodd was injured so we know he’s not behind Haffer and Hobson.

Possibly the same for Oghre. He played in the summer and if we needed a test hooker he’s not behind Kepu or Riley. That one is probably a case of wanting to see more from Blamire and then wanting to keep Kepu involved as a future star. Riley is there to make up numbers in case of injury.

Calouri possibly playing for under 20s?

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 9:39 am Calouri possibly playing for under 20s?

Pearson, Calouri and Pater would be a tasty back three at under 20s level. Two wingers with gas who are great in the air.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 9:39 am I think Obano is just about looking at younger players. He was in the full squad in the autumn when Rodd was injured so we know he’s not behind Haffer and Hobson.

Possibly the same for Oghre. He played in the summer and if we needed a test hooker he’s not behind Kepu or Riley. That one is probably a case of wanting to see more from Blamire and then wanting to keep Kepu involved as a future star. Riley is there to make up numbers in case of injury.

Calouri possibly playing for under 20s?

It’s an interesting one. Either he’s viewed as too raw and they feel he’s better playing 5 games for the U20s or … potentially one of the wingers in the senior squad is carrying a knock that’s yet to be announced and Caluori is replacing them.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 10:52 am

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 9:39 am I think Obano is just about looking at younger players. He was in the full squad in the autumn when Rodd was injured so we know he’s not behind Haffer and Hobson.

Possibly the same for Oghre. He played in the summer and if we needed a test hooker he’s not behind Kepu or Riley. That one is probably a case of wanting to see more from Blamire and then wanting to keep Kepu involved as a future star. Riley is there to make up numbers in case of injury.

Calouri possibly playing for under 20s?

It’s an interesting one. Either he’s viewed as too raw and they feel he’s better playing 5 games for the U20s or … potentially one of the wingers in the senior squad is carrying a knock that’s yet to be announced and Caluori is replacing them.

Calouri has looked raw so far. There's clearly bags of potential there but tearing it up for the under 20s and getting more game time within an England system might well be considered more useful than a one off game for the A side.

I think he's generally been around the squad as both an apprentice and great tester for the starters in terms of defending a strong aerial contest. Murley must be delighted he's not doing that in the squad this time round.

FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 10:31 am

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 9:39 am Calouri possibly playing for under 20s?

Pearson, Calouri and Pater would be a tasty back three at under 20s level. Two wingers with gas who are great in the air.

Cotgreave and Offiah also. The u20s are stacked at wing and FB this year.

charlesdeboeuf wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 1:23 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 10:31 am

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 9:39 am Calouri possibly playing for under 20s?

Pearson, Calouri and Pater would be a tasty back three at under 20s level. Two wingers with gas who are great in the air.

Cotgreave and Offiah also. The u20s are stacked at wing and FB this year.

And Sam Winters, and Keylock who can play 15 and played wing for Sarries at the weekend; and Ollie Davies who is eligible, but may be banned for a few games following his red card at the weekend.

England Men’s A matchday squad to face Ireland XV on Friday.
15 Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RUFC, 1 cap)
14 Cadan Murley (Harlequins, Salisbury RFC, 3 caps)
13 Luke Northmore (Harlequins, Tavistock RFC, 2 caps)
12 Orlando Bailey (Leicester Tigers, Dorchester RFC, uncapped)
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, Newbury RFC, 2 caps)
10 Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers, Oakhampton RFC, uncapped)
9 Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, Tycroes RFC, 14 caps)

1 Tarek Haffar (Leicester Tigers, Grasshoppers RFC, uncapped)
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers, Workington RFC, 7 caps)
3 George Kloska (Bristol Bears, St. Brendan’s RFC, uncapped)
4 Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, Langworthy Reds ARLFC, uncapped)
5 Joe Batley (Bristol Bears, Gosport and Fareham RFC, uncapped)
6 Ethan Roots (C) (Exeter Chiefs, East Coast Bays RFC, 4 caps)
7 Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, Richmond RFC, uncapped)
8 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, Warlingham RFC, 23 caps)

Replacements:
16 Kepueli Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, uncapped)
17 Archie Van Der Flier (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Rugby, uncapped)
18 Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, Saracens Amateur RFC, uncapped)
19 Hugh Tizard (Saracens, Guildfordians RFC, uncapped)
20 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears, Beaconsfield RFC, uncapped)
21 Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, Broughton Park RFC, 2 caps)
22 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, Oxford RFC, 1 cap)
23 George Hendy (Northampton Saints, Shipston-on-Stour RFC, uncapped)

Murley and Kenningham get drafted in from the senior squad, while Van der Flier and Tizard get called up.

Even as a Tigers fan I can only assume Archie is in there because he's dual qualified and on the off chance he develops into a half decent player we want him tied to us. He was far less than good last weekend Vs Saints, young Scola on the loosehead for Saints far better.

Is Hobson injured then? Lockett went off injured last weekend so is presumably out on the back of that.

Inexplicably neither Obano or Val R-R involved. And yet we draft in Murley and give run outs to Roots and Dombrandt. I'm not sure i really understand what the thinking is.