Six Nations 2024: All the squad announcements as England, Ireland and France name new captains

England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy have named their squads for the Six Nations - with at least four of them to have new captains.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has named seven uncapped players in his 36-strong group, with Jamie George confirmed as skipper as Owen Farrell has stepped back to manage his mental wellbeing. The Saracens fly-half could soon be ineligible if he makes a reported move to Racing 92.

Grand slam champions Ireland will be captained by Peter O'Mahony following Johnny Sexton's retirement. There are no uncapped players in the main squad, ahead of the opening match of the tournament with France on Friday, February 2.

Wales will be led by Exeter's Daffyd Jenkins, with World Cup co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake out injured, while France have picked No. 8 Gregory Alldritt as skipper as Antoine Dupont focuses on the Olympics. Scotland are yet to name a captain.

Warren Gatland’s Wales announcement was overshadowed by Louis Rees-Zammit choosing to quit the sport to become an American football player.

The winger has been released from his contract at Gloucester so that he can join the NFL’s International Player Pathway in Florida, having played a key part in Wales’ run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup last year.

France v Ireland - Friday, February 2, 20:00 GMT

Italy v England - Saturday, February 3, 14:15 GMT

Wales v Scotland - Saturday, February 3, 16:45 GMT

England head coach Steve Borthwick was forced into naming a fresh-look squad for the Six Nations, with Owen Farrell absent, Courtney Lawes retired from international rugby, several injuries, and more players now ineligible following moves abroad.

Exeter winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has received his first call-up, having switched from Wales, who he represented at youth levels. There are six other uncapped players involved - Northampton’s former England under-20 captain Fraser Dingwall, his Saints team-mate Fin Smith, Harlequins centre Oscar Beard and forward Chandler Cunningham-South, Sale’s Tom Roebuck, and Exeter’s New Zealand-born flanker Ethan Roots.

There are recalls for Henry Slade, who was a surprise omission from the World Cup squad, and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, but is no space for No. 8 Billy Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler.

“Building on the foundations of what the England Team achieved in the Rugby World Cup, I have selected a squad that provides strong continuity and experience, whilst at the same time providing an opportunity to develop the talent of a number of new and less experienced players,” said Borthwick.

“I would particularly like to congratulate the new faces who have their first chance in an England squad, and very much look forward to seeing how that young talent can play an important part in ensuring that England continue to develop our game and move forward.

“The Six Nations is a tremendously entertaining and hugely competitive competition. This year will be no different, and as we prepare for the challenge which awaits us against Italy in Rome, this squad will come together next week for a training camp in Girona.”

*denotes uncapped player

Forwards:

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins*), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens) – captain, Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Beno Obano (Bath Rugby), Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs*), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby).

Oscar Beard (Harlequins*), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints*), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs*), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks*), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints*), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers).

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell has picked experienced back row Peter O'Mahony to succeed Johnny Sexton as captain, following the fly-half's retirement from the sport.

Ireland will be hoping to match last year's Grand Slam victory, after bowing out of the World Cup to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.

There are no uncapped players in the 34-player group, but three are involved to train with the squad in Munster duo Oli Jager and Thomas Ahern, as well as Leinster's Sam Prendergast.

“Ever since I was a boy starting off in the game, I have always dreamed of captaining Ireland," said new skipper O'Mahony.

"I have been asked to lead Ireland on a number of occasions previously, and each of those 10 matches were special days. To be now asked to captain Ireland ahead of the Six Nations is without doubt one of the proudest moments of my life and I would like to thank Andy for this show of faith in me.

“We have a strong core of leaders who will all play a key role in driving the highest standards for the team over the coming weeks. Competition is red hot across the squad and we’re all hugely motivated to work hard when we meet up next week ahead of the opening game in Marseille.”

Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cian Healy (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster), Joe McCarthy (Leinster), Peter O’Mahony (Munster - captain), Tom O’Toole (Ulster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Tom Stewart (Ulster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster)

Bundee Aki (Connacht), Harry Byrne (Leinster), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Munster)Ciaran Frawley (Leinster)Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)Hugo Keenan (Leinster)Jordan Larmour (Leinster)James Lowe (Leinster)Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)Conor Murray (Munster)Calvin Nash (Munster)Garry Ringrose (Leinster)Jacob Stockdale (Ulster)

Oli Jager (Munster)*Thomas Ahern (Shannon/Munster)*Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)*

Moments before Wales named their squad for the Six Nations, their star winger Louis Rees-Zammit made a bombshell announcement that he would quit rugby in an attempt to become an NFL player.

Daffyd Jenkins will captain the side in the opener against Scotland, following the Exeter lock’s impressive performances for his club so far this season. World Cup co-captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake are missing through injury.

Jenkins will become the second youngest player to lead the senior Wales side, after Sam Warburton.

Five uncapped players are named in the 34-player squad, which features 19 forwards and 15 backs. Cardiff back rows Alex Mann and Mackenzie Martin are included, as are their club team-mates Cameron Winnett (full-back) and Evan Lloyd (flanker), while Bath prop Archie Griffin is included. There is also a recall for James Botham, the son of England cricket great Sir Ian Botham.

“There’s a little bit of experience in terms of players like George North and Gareth Davies,” said Gatland.

“We wanted a little bit of continuity with that and we’re also thinking about the next Rugby World Cup cycle and giving some youngsters an opportunity, some youngsters that are not featuring regularly for their club sides.

“I’m really excited about those youngsters and that opportunity to develop them over the next four years.

“The average age of the squad is about 25 compared to a little bit older during RWC and then you look at this next cycle and you want to get those players to mid to late 20s in terms of experience and age.”

Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), Leon Brown (Dragons), Archie Griffin (Bath), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Taine Basham (Dragons), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Cai Evans (Dragons), Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), George North (Ospreys), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has named former England prop Alec Hepburn as one of four new faces in his squad for the Six Nations.

The Exeter forward, who won the last of his caps in 2018, qualifies to switch nations through his dad.

Sale winger Arron Reed, who has also represented England at age-grade level, is included, as are Edinburgh back Harry Paterson and Leicester prop Will Hurd.

There is no place for experienced Edinburgh flanker Hamish Watson, who was picked in the World Cup squad, while Townsend is yet to confirm who will captain the side.

“We’re going to leave it another week,” he said.

“Jamie [Ritchie] was our captain last season and he’s just carrying a little injury - he should be back playing this weekend.

“He’s got a challenge to play well, up against the back rowers who are in this squad, who are all playing well. We know Jamie could play as captain against Wales, but there’s others in the mix too.”

Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Josh Bayliss (Bath), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Edinburgh), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Glen Young (Edinburgh)

Adam Hastings (Gloucester), Ben Healy (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh), Ali Price (Edinburgh), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russell (Bath), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Ben White (Toulon)

With Antoine Dupont taking a break from France duty to concentrate on playing Sevens at the Paris Olympics, No. 8 Gregory Alldritt will captain the side in this year's Six Nations.

Fabien Galthie's side finished second behind Ireland at the 2023 Six Nations, and they will be hoping to go one better, starting with a match against the reigning champions in Marseille.

Five uncapped players are involved, including Racing 92 scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, who will help fill the void left by Dupont, while prop Uini Atonio has gone back on his decision to retire from international duty after the World Cup.

Esteban Abadie (Toulon), Dorian Aldegheri (Toulouse), Gregory Alldritt (La Rochelle) (Captain), Uini Atonio (La Rochelle), Cyril Baille (Toulouse), Gaetan Barlot (Castres Olympique), Paul Boudehent (La Rochelle), Francois Cros (Toulouse), Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Francais), Matthias Halagahu (Toulon), Anthony Jelonch (Toulouse), Thomas Laclayat (Racing 92), Julien Marchand (Toulouse), Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse), Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse), Charles Ollivon (Toulon), Romain Taofifenua (Lyon), Sebastien Taofifenua (Lyon), Reda Wardi (La Rochelle), Cameron Woki (Racing 92).

Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles), Jonathan Danty (La Rochelle), Nicolas Depoortere (Bordeaux-Begles), Gael Fickou (Racing 92), Emilien Gailleton (Section Paloise), Antoine Gibert (Racing 92), Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles), Melvyn Jaminet (Toulon), Nolann Le Garrec (Racing 92), Matthis Lebel (Toulouse), Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux-Begles), Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Begles), Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Begles), Thomas Ramos (Toulouse).

New Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has named five uncapped players in his squad for the Six Nations, including Exeter's South Africa-born back-row Ross Vintcent.

Mirco Spagnolo, Alessandro Izekor, Matteo Nocera and Luca Rizzoli will also be hoping to win their first caps when they face England in their opening match.

But Italy are without the injured Harlequins lock Dino Lamb.

Pietro Ceccarelli (Perpignan), Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma), Matteo Nocera (Zebre Parma), Luca Rizzoli (Zebre Parma), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby), Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby), Marco Manfredi (Zebre Parma), Giacomo Nicotera (Benetton Rugby), Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Edoardo Iachizzi (Benetton Rugby), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby), Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), Ross Vintcent (Exeter), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby)

Backs:

Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby), Martin Page-Relo (Lyon), Stephen Varney (Gloucester), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Paolo Garbisi (Montpellier), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Federico Mori (Bayonne), Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby), Pierre Bruno (Zebre Parma), Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse), Monty Ioane (Lyon), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma)

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