‘It’s Still a Chance to Work With Him’ – Borthwick on Feyi-Waboso Pick
England head coach Steve Borthwick has defended his decision to include suspended winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the summer touring squad, insisting the Exeter back is “too good to leave out” despite being ineligible to play against Argentina.
The 22-year-old was sent off in a recent fixture for a high tackle on France A’s Antoine Hastoy, his first game in six months following a dislocated shoulder. He is expected to be available for selection for England’s final summer Test against the USA on 19 July.
“I want players who have that X-factor in an England shirt,” Borthwick said on BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“I want players who want the ball in their hands and will get the crowd on their feet.”
Why Feyi-Waboso Still Made the Squad
Despite the suspension, Borthwick sees the tour as a development opportunity, not just a match window.
“Manny has worked hard to get back from injury and looks in great condition,” he added.
“This is still an opportunity to work with him for a couple of weeks.”
Feyi-Waboso’s performances with Exeter and in England training camps have consistently caught Borthwick’s eye. His explosive pace and attacking flair earned him a breakout spot earlier in the year, before injury derailed his Six Nations campaign.
England’s Backline Depth for the Tour
Alongside Feyi-Waboso, Borthwick named Will Muir (Bath), Tom Roebuck (Sale) and Cadan Murley (Harlequins) as specialist wings for the summer series.
George Furbank remains out as he recovers from a concussion. Freddie Steward and Joe Carpenter cover full-back duties.
The squad also includes Ben Curry and Harry Randall, who have returned from injury, and 10 uncapped players looking to make their Test debuts.
Leadership and Lions Absences
With regular stars like Elliot Daly, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, and Tommy Freeman away on British and Irish Lions duty, England will be co-captained by Maro Itoje and George Ford.
Charlie Atkinson is the only other specialist fly-half named, though Henry Slade offers midfield flexibility.
Challenging Tour Ahead
The summer tour includes a two-Test series against Argentina, followed by a one-off fixture versus the United States. Borthwick sees the tour as a crucial bonding and growth opportunity.
“Travelling together helps strengthen team bonds and offers a valuable chance for new players to integrate,” he said.
“This is an exciting test for us, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we continue to evolve.”
Argentina, currently ranked 5th in the world, recently beat the British and Irish Lions and have scalps over the All Blacks, Springboks, and Wallabies in the past year.
England Squad – Summer Tour 2025
🔹 Forwards:
Fin Baxter, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Theo Dan, Trevor Davison, Alex Dombrandt, Charlie Ewels, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Emmanuel Iyogun, Curtis Langdon, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Bevan Rodd, Sam Underhill, Tom Willis
🔹 Backs:
Charlie Atkinson, Seb Atkinson, Oscar Beard, Joe Carpenter, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Will Muir, Cadan Murley, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh, Harry Randall, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet
