Borthwick: We want to get kids engaged
BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 04: Tom Curry with the ball during an England Training session at Pennyhill Park on June 04, 2024 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)
Steve Borthwick has urged his side to help youngsters in England fall in love with rugby again after being blanked by mainstream TV.
Borthwick is set for a box office showdown with old mentor and ex-England coach Eddie Jones when his side take on Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.
Incredibly, the fixture, with Jones aiming to get one over Twickenham chiefs who sacked him in 2022, is not on terrestrial or satellite TV but is being broadcast by the World Rugby-owned stream RugbyPass.
Sky are showing England’s two Tests in New Zealand but the BBC were still haggling over radio rights for those games last week and will not be in Japan.
Borthwick has recognised the problem his side have connecting with the youth and has urged the players to do it in the simplest way, winning games, and on social media.
PICTURES: Getty Images
Borthwick said: “I spoke with a group of players a short time ago and we want to make sure that we help rugby grow in this country.
“One of the challenges we have is in the younger age groups and attention on rugby. The players are the ones who are going to connect with that younger age group so I am encouraging the players and have been trying to find different ways they can connect with those younger age groups.
“We have got some great role models in this team so the more exposure we can have of this team the better. The number one thing we can do is build a successful England team and that is what we are striving to do and at the same time having a positive impact on the people we meet and being positive role models that is really important to me. In Jamie George we have a captain who is a really positive role model.”
The RFU have helped players engage with fans by setting up an app for the squad where they dump clips of squad members. The likes of Ben Earl, George, Joe Marler and Maro Itoje can cherry-pick it for their own social media channels.
Borthwick added: “The RFU has been really supportive. We are looking to increase the eyes on the team and also increase the influence of the players and that they are able to connect with people. This is a very diverse, and young, England team that has an ability, to connect with people that follow media in different ways and we have got to be able to make sure our players are able to connect with them.”
Curry has played just over half an hour of rugby since last year’s Rugby World Cup because of a hip injury.
England face Japan on Saturday before Tests against the All Blacks on July 6 and 13.
“The Summer Series presents a valuable opportunity for the continued development of this squad and is a demanding challenge to conclude the season,” said head coach Steve Borthwick.
“With the changes in climate, playing conditions and contrasting styles of rugby from the two opponents we face, we will be challenged on and off the field.”
There are six uncapped players in the party, with Ollie Sleightholme joined by the Harlequins pair of prop Fin Baxter and centre Luke Northmore, the Sale back-three players Joe Carpenter and Tom Roebuck, and Bristol hooker Gabriel Oghre.
Bristol’s Harry Randall is selected as one of three scrum-halves, alongside Premiership finalists Ben Spencer and Alex Mitchell. With George Ford ruled out to recover from a pre-existing Achilles injury, there are only two specialist fly-halves in Marcus Smith and Fin Smith, with full-back George Furbank providing cover.
Borthwick, who has also spoken to England football manager Gareth Southgate ahead of the current tour, has also compiled a dossier on the countries of Japan and New Zealand for players who are first-time visitors.
He added: “We did a debrief of everyone who has had experience of Japan, particularly the 2019 World Cup, to share it with members of the management team who have not. We will be discussing that with the players and how it is being in Japan.
“I have had conversations with players who were there in 2019 and how much they loved being in Tokyo. I want this experience with the England team to be the time of their life for the players, I want them to have a great time as well as winning Test matches. From the 2017 Lions tour with Jamie, Maro, Joe Marler and Dan Cole who were there, I was coaching, and did something to capture their experiences. I still have that file.
“New Zealand is a special place to go and tour. It is not often the England team goes down there and you are playing against a team you know is going to be exceptional and everyone in that country is behind that team – bar none. That is why it is a special place and I will be encouraging players to embrace it.”
ENGLAND SQUAD
FORWARDS: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens) – captain, Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Marler (Harlequins), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
BACKS: Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
