England have been forced into a late change to their initial 36-man training squad to begin preparations for the Nations Championship, with Charlie Atkinson drafted into the group.
The in-form Gloucester fly-half comes into the wider training group in place of Northampton Saints counterpart Fin Smith, who pulls out through injury. He will, however, remain in camp to continue his rehab. Smith played the full 80 minutes for his side in their 26-7 defeat to Leicester Tigers on Saturday, but was seen limping at one point in the second-half following a carry.
England forced into late change after injury blow
“Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester) has joined the England training squad, replacing Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), who will continue his injury rehabilitation with England,” an RFU statement read.
“England have begun a three-day training camp ahead of the forthcoming Nations Championship. The squad will train at England’s Performance Centre at Pennyhill Park until Tuesday 27 October.
“England welcome Australia to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Sunday 8 November in Round 4 of the Nations Championship, before taking on Japan and New Zealand.”
Atkinson is no stranger to the England environment, though, regularly featuring for the ‘A’ team in recent years and winning his maiden Test cap against the USA in July 2025. He has also featured in several senior training camps too.
Growing injury list for Steve Borthwick
Smith now joins an ever-growing England injury list ahead of the Nations Championship campaign, with Borthwick missing a number of key men ahead of their Tests next month.
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Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Seb Atkinson and Guy Pepper are all currently working through rehabilitation programmes in camp, while Henry Arundell and Benhard Janse van Rensburg are also set to miss out on the campaign through injury.
Elsewhere, forward duo Sam Underhill and Chandler Cunningham-South will have to sit out the November Tests due to surgeries.
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Updated England squad in full
Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Emmanuel Iyogun, George Martin, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart, Kepu Tuipulotu
Backs: Charlie Atkinson, Noah Caluori, Fraser Dingwall, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Will Joseph, Joe Marchant, Archie McParland, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet