England A training squad named

Head coach Mark Mapletoft has named his England Men's 'A' training squad in preparation to face Argentina XV at The Rec this Friday (19:45 kick-off, live on the England Rugby YouTube channel and Premier Sports). 
 

The 30-player cohort has been selected through a cooperative approach involving Mapletoft, England senior men's head coach Steve Borthwick, and Conor O'Shea, RFU Executive Director of Rugby Performance. 

With all 10 Gallagher PREM clubs represented in the squad makeup, the Men's 'A' side have assembled at the University of Bath training grounds ahead of their first match of the season. 

Bristol Bears back-row forward and club captain, Fitz Harding, will lead the 'A' side for a second time having taken his country to a 29-25 victory over Spain in Valladolid in 2025. 

Charlie Atkinson, Jamie Blamire, Noah Caluori, Joe Carpenter, George Kloska, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh and Ethan Roots are the eight previously capped senior men's players named in the squad. 

Lucas Friday, Max Hicks, Will Knight, Alex O'Driscoll, James Pater and Will Trenholm are welcomed into Mapletoft's 'A' setup for the first time. 

Pater and Knight are current U20 Elite Player Squad internationals called up from Andy Titterrell's side, with recent graduates Caluori and Friday also involved. Nineteen of the squad have progressed through the England Men's Pathway with caps at U18 or U20 level, underlining the strength of the player development pathway. 

Mark Mapletoft said: “This squad brings together a group of players who have earned an exciting opportunity through their performances, marking the start of an important week of connection, growth and learning.  

"The 'A' programme plays a key role in strengthening the identity of English rugby, creating alignment across the pathway and giving players the chance to experience what it means to represent England in a high-performance environment.  

"There is real ambition within this group, and we are looking forward to building strong relationships, developing cohesion and unity, and taking another step forward together ahead of a physical and demanding test at The Rec.” 

Tickets for England 'A' vs. Argentina XV start from £22.95 for adults and £11.50 for children (U16), booking fees apply. Secure your place here. 

England Men’s ‘A’ training squad for Argentina XV fixture (includes current club, community club and senior men's caps) 

Forwards 

Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks, Langworthy Reds ARLFC, uncapped) 

Joe Batley (Bristol Bears, Gosport and Fareham RFC, uncapped) 

Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers, Workington RFC, 7 caps) 

Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, Saracens Amateur RFC, uncapped) 

Fitz Harding (c) (Bristol Bears, Beaconsfield RFC, uncapped) 

Max Hicks (Newcastle Red Bulls, Marist RFC, uncapped) 

Will Hobson (Harlequins, Wymondham Rugby Club, uncapped) 

Nathan Jibulu (Sale Sharks, Old Wimbledonians, uncapped) 

Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, Reeds, uncapped) 

George Kloska (Bristol Bears, St. Brendan’s RFC, 2 caps) 

Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, Colchester RFC, uncapped) 

Alex O'Driscoll (Saracens, Amersham & Chiltern RFC, uncapped) 

Sam Riley (Harlequins, Chobham RFC, uncapped) 

Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, East Coast Bays RFC, 4 caps) 

Will Trenholm (Gloucester Rugby, Farnham RUFC, uncapped) 

Archie van der Flier (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Rugby, uncapped) 

Backs 

Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, Oxford RFC, 1 cap) 

Orlando Bailey (Leicester Tigers, Dorchester RFC, uncapped) 

Noah Caluori (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, 2 caps) 

Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RUFC, 1 cap) 

Tobias Elliott (Saracens, Harrow Rugby Club, uncapped) 

Caolan Englefield (Gloucester Rugby, Old Rutlishians Rugby, uncapped) 

Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Bromley RFC, uncapped) 

George Hendy (Northampton Saints, Shipston-on-Stour RFC, uncapped) 

Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby, Longlevens RFC, uncapped) 

Luke Northmore (Harlequins, Tavistock RFC, 2 caps) 

Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, Chippenham RFC, 2 caps) 

James Pater (Northampton Saints, Shelford RFC, uncapped) 

Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers, Okehampton RFC, uncapped) 

Will Wand (Leicester Tigers, Spalding RFC, uncapped) 

England Men’s ‘A’ coaching staff for Argentina XV fixture 

Mark Mapletoft – Head Coach, England Rugby 

James Lightfoot Brown – Attack Coach, Gloucester Rugby  

Adam Powell – Defence Coach, Saracens 

James Craig – Forwards Coach, Northampton Saints  

Nathan Catt – Scrum Coach, England Rugby 

Ben Rhodes – Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach, Northampton Saints 

Matt Lamin – Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach, England Rugby 

Tom Sheriff – Sports Scientist, Saracens 

Tim Newhouse – Lead Performance Analyst, England Rugby 

Josh Biggs – Assistant Performance Analyst, Northampton Saints 

Adam Reuben – Team Doctor, England Rugby 

Chris Rainbow – Physiotherapist, England Rugby 

James Clegg – Physiotherapist, England Rugby 

Luke Rudkin – Sports Therapist, Gloucester Rugby 

Guy Pallett – Kit Manager, England Rugby 

Carrie Exworth – Team Operations Manager, England Rugby 

Penny Craig – Team Operations Manager, England Rugby 

England Men’s ‘A’ 2026/27 fixtures 

England Men’s A vs. Argentina XV – Friday 6th November 2026 – The Recreation Ground, Bath, 19:45 GMT kick-off 

England Men’s A vs. Ireland XV – Saturday 20th February 2027 – Sandy Park, Exeter, 19:00 GMT kick-off 

England Men’s A vs. Chile – Friday 26th February 2027 – Kingsholm, Gloucester, 19:45 GMT kick-off