England name team to play Argentina

England men’s head coach Steve Borthwick has named an unchanged starting XV to face Argentina in Round 3 of the Nations Championship on Saturday 18 July in Santiago del Estero (kick-off 8.10pm BST, live on ITV1).

There are two changes to the replacements, with Ben Spencer and uncapped loosehead prop Emmanuel Iyogun coming into the matchday 23 on the bench.  

Jamie George captains the side and will earn his 113th England cap, moving into fourth on the all-time list of England men's most-capped players. Ellis Genge and Ollie Chessum are named as vice-captains.

“We're excited by the challenge of playing Los Pumas in Santiago del Estero,” said Borthwick.

“We expect a fantastic atmosphere with passionate home support. It promises to be a great occasion, and one the players are excited to embrace.”

ARGENTINA v ENGLAND
Saturday 18 July 2026
Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Kick-off: 8.10pm BST   

15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 52 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 29 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 76 caps)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 6 caps)
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 26 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 82 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 112 caps) – captain 
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 24 caps)
4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 21 caps)
5. George Martin (Saracens, 23 caps)
6. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 37 caps) – vice-captain
7. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 53 caps)

Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 60 caps)
17. Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 8 caps)
19. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 70 caps)
20. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
21. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby 18 caps)
22. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears, 1 cap)
23. Noah Caluori (Saracens, 1 cap)