England uncertain over Fin Smith after calf injury ahead of Nations Championship opener

England are weighing Fin Smith’s fitness after the Northampton fly-half damaged a calf in the second half against Leicester on Saturday, leaving his participation in next week’s Nations Championship home opener with Australia in doubt; he will be unable to join the national squad’s three-day training camp in Bagshot this week.

The 24-year-old started at 10 in all three of England’s Tests in July and was instrumental in Saints’ domestic title triumph last season, so losing him so close to the Wallabies fixture would be a significant blow. England’s management say they remain hopeful Smith will be available to face Australia but acknowledge limited preparation time could disrupt Steve Borthwick’s plans, and Borthwick has called up Gloucester’s Charlie Atkinson as cover; Marcus Smith and George Ford are the other specialist 10s in the squad.

Since deposing Ford after England’s defeat against Ireland in the Six Nations, Fin Smith has staked a firm claim and is very much the man in possession of the 10 jersey. Marcus Smith’s last start at 10 for England was against Ireland in Dublin in the opening round of the 2025 Six Nations.

Several other selection doubts persist around the squad. Bath’s Guy Pepper appeared to be in pain as he limped off against Gloucester last Friday, Benhard van Rensburg has not featured since sustaining a heavy concussion in Bristol’s second Prem game of the season, and the inside centre Seb Atkinson is unable to train this week but has not ruled out playing for Gloucester at Northampton this weekend.

The uncertainty leaves Borthwick and the squad’s other specialist centres — Henry Slade, Joe Marchant, Max Ojomoh and Fraser Dingwall — awaiting developments in the days before the formal squad announcement. Joe Marchant said he was delighted to be back in the frame for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, recalled that he then moved to Paris to play for Stade Français after being told his England career was over, and added he is now back and eligible again after joining Sale Sharks; the 30-year-old, who married Alan Shearer’s daughter Hollie this year, said he would love to feature at the World Cup in Australia next year and added, "When I was a kid I wanted to play for England and that’s not changed."

An official update on Fin Smith’s condition is due on Tuesday, with the formal squad announcement scheduled for next Monday.