Bristol Bears captain Fitz Harding to lead England A side against Argentina XV

Bristol Bears captain Fitz Harding will lead the England Men's 'A' training squad against Argentina XV. The 27-year-old flanker has been named as the skipper for the fixture scheduled for Friday night at the Recreation Ground in Bath.

Harding takes on the leadership role for a second time. He previously guided the side to a 29-25 victory over Spain in Valladolid in 2025. His appointment comes as the England senior team prepares for the Autumn Nations Championship.

The 30-man squad includes eight players who hold senior England caps. These players are Charlie Atkinson, Jamie Blamire, Noah Caluori, Joe Carpenter, George Kloska, Luke Northmore, Max Ojomoh, and Ethan Roots. The remaining members are developing through the national pathway or hold community club honors.

Harding's selection as captain occurred despite a strong case for senior inclusion. Bath lock Guy Pepper is out with an ankle injury, and his clubmate Sam Underhill is recovering from bicep surgery. Those absences made this autumn look like Harding's best chance to break into the senior setup.

Head coach Steve Borthwick instead promoted Northampton Saints' Tom Pearson to the senior squad. Harding remains with the 'A' team, which is currently based in Bath for preparation. The squad was selected through a cooperative process involving England A boss Mark Mapletoft, Borthwick, and RFU Executive Director of Rugby Performance Conor O'Shea.

Six new faces join the group. Lucas Friday, Max Hicks, Will Knight, Alex O'Driscoll, James Pater, and Will Trenholm are among those named. Pater and Knight are current U20 Elite Player Squad internationals called up from Andy Titterrell's side. Caluori and Friday are recent graduates from the development system.

Nineteen of the 30 players have progressed through the England Men's Pathway with caps at U18 or U20 level. This composition reflects the current player development structure. The forwards list includes Ben Bamber, Joe Batley, and Nathan Jibulu from Sale Sharks, while the backs list features Tobias Elliott and Caolan Englefield from Saracens.

Mark Mapletoft described the group as players who earned the opportunity through their performances. He said the week is designed for connection, growth, and learning ahead of a physical test at The Rec. The coaching staff for the match includes James Lightfoot Brown, Adam Powell, James Craig, and Nathan Catt.

The squad is a mix of current Premiership players and community club representatives. Gloucester Rugby contributes three players: Afolabi Fasogbon, Will Trenholm, and Will Knight. Leicester Tigers provide four names, including Jamie Blamire and Orlando Bailey. Bristol Bears are represented by three players: Joe Batley, George Kloska, and Harding.

The England A side will face Argentina XV in a single match. The game serves as a high-performance environment for players to represent England. The squad includes uncapped players from various clubs, including Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, and Newcastle Red Bulls. The selection process aimed to create alignment across the rugby pathway.