England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the remainder of the Nations Championship after sustaining his fourth hamstring injury of 2026. The 29-year-old Northampton player was forced off during the first half of his club’s 28-14 victory over Gloucester last Saturday, with subsequent assessments confirming he will miss upcoming matches against Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. But the news around Mitchell had been expected ever since he withdrew in the first half of Northampton’s 28-14 victory over the Cherry and Whites. And now faces a prolonged period out of action for club and country, the 29-year-old had already picked up three hamstring injuries through the course of 2026. Rugby Union Weekly: Can England afford to lose to Australia. You don’t want to see your mate and a player who is a massive part of this group out.
This latest setback marks the fourth time Mitchell has faced a hamstring issue this year, leading to a long-term recovery period for the scrum-half. Club and international teammate Tommy Freeman described the news as gutting for the group. He expressed confidence in Mitchell’s return, noting that the break would allow him to focus on rehabilitation, explore new solutions, and address the underlying cause of the recurring injuries. Find new solutions and ways to maximise his recovery,” Saints wing Freeman said, it will definitely give him time to go after his rehab and get to the bottom of what is going on.
As England prepares for Sunday’s opener against the Wallabies, fly-half Fin Smith is managing a calf injury. While he participated in running drills upon arriving at the training camp, his involvement in full sessions remains limited. Freeman highlighted Smith’s optimistic outlook and his continued contribution to team meetings, noting that his dedication demonstrates his strong character despite his restricted physical training. He took part, however, in running drills on arrival in camp, with England sources remaining optimistic about his chances of being fit for Sunday’s showdown with the Wallabies. He’s joining in with meetings and giving good points so he’s very much involved and that shows the character he is,” he added.
Head coach Steve Borthwick is expected to name his squad for the Australia match this Friday.
In response to Mitchell’s absence and the withdrawal of 21-year-old Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland due to a calf injury, the coaching staff called up Bath’s Ben Spencer and Bristol Bears’ Harry Randall on Monday.
Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet, who featured in all three of England’s summer Tests, is currently the frontrunner to start at number nine.
Meanwhile, the squad received some positive updates regarding other personnel at their Bagshot training base. Both hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and flanker Tom Curry participated in modified training sessions on Tuesday and are currently expected to be fit for selection.
