Alex Mitchell ruled out of England’s Nations Championship after fourth hamstring injury in 2026

Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England’s Nations Championship campaign after a scan on Monday confirmed he will miss the opener against Australia on Sunday.

The Northampton scrum-half had already been deemed unavailable for the Wallabies clash and the scan determined he will sit out England’s autumn campaign, a development that has affected Steve Borthwick’s selection plans. Jack van Poortvliet is expected to start at scrum-half with Ben Spencer and Harry Randall competing for a place among the replacements.

The latest problem is Mitchell’s fourth hamstring injury of 2026; he suffered similar injuries during the Six Nations, at an England camp in May — from which he recovered to take his place in the Northampton squad for the Prem final win against Exeter — and during the summer Test against Fiji.

Van Poortvliet served as England’s starting scrum-half over the summer because Mitchell had limited game time, and the Northampton player is viewed within the squad as England’s first-choice No 9 when fit. The management must therefore revert to the summer arrangement for the opening match against Australia.

Borthwick is also awaiting the fitness of Mitchell’s Northampton half-back partner Fin Smith before naming his side to face Australia. Smith missed Saints’ victory against Gloucester last weekend — the match in which Mitchell sustained his injury — and is carrying a calf problem that England hope will recover in time for selection.

The head coach already faces other absences: Bath back-rowers Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill are unavailable, Bath rookie hooker Kepu Tuipulotu is out with a knee problem, and Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg remains absent after sustaining a concussion against Northampton this season.

England open their Nations Championship campaign against Australia on Sunday; Borthwick has yet to name his matchday side while awaiting updates on Fin Smith’s fitness.