England's Mitchell ruled out of entire Nations Championship

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 15:46 · Archive

Scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of England's entire Nations Championship campaign after suffering his fourth hamstring injury of 2026.

England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the entire Nations Championship after sustaining a hamstring injury during Northampton's 28-14 Premiership victory over Gloucester on Saturday. A scan on Monday confirmed he will miss all four of England's autumn Tests, including matches against Australia, Japan and New Zealand, as well as the Nations Championship finals weekend from 27-29 November.

It is the fourth hamstring injury Mitchell has sustained in 2026, following injuries during the Six Nations, at an England camp in May and during the summer Test against Fiji. The British and Irish Lions scrum-half had been expected to play a key role in England's campaign.

Jack van Poortvliet is expected to start at scrum-half against Australia at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday, with Ben Spencer and Harry Randall vying for a spot on the bench. Van Poortvliet was England's starting scrum-half during the summer, but Mitchell had been considered the first-choice number nine when fit.

Head coach Steve Borthwick is also waiting on the fitness of Mitchell's Northampton teammate Fin Smith, who is battling a calf problem. Smith missed Northampton's match against Gloucester but took part in limited training on Monday and in running drills on arrival at England's Bagshot base. Borthwick will give Smith until Wednesday to prove he can play, with George Ford and Marcus Smith on standby at fly-half.

Another Northampton half-back, Archie McParland, has withdrawn from the training squad with a calf injury, though could return against Japan or New Zealand. Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and flanker Tom Curry both took part in modified training and are expected to be fit for selection. Borthwick will name his side to face Australia on Friday.

How it is being reported

• Alex Mitchell ruled out of November Tests but England given Fin Smith hopeEngland have faced significant half-back injury problems ahead of their opener against AustraliaIndependent Sport · 3 Nov, 15:09
• Mitchell ruled out of England’s Nations ChampionshipEngland have been dealt a blow with Alex Mitchell ruled out of the entire Nations Championship after sustaining a hamstring injury during Northampton’s 28-14 victory over Gloucester on Saturday.Sky Sports · 3 Nov, 14:51
• England’s Alex Mitchell out of Nations Championship with fourth hamstring injury in 2026Jack van Poortvliet expected to start against Australia Fin Smith also an injury concern to Steve Borthwick Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of all of England’s Nations Championship campaign as a result of his latest hamstring injury, dealing a significant blow to Steve Borthwick before the opener against Australia on Sunday. The Northampton scrum-half had already been deemed unavailable for the clash against the Wallabies and a scan on Monday has determined that Mitchell will sit out all of England’s autumn campaign. Continue reading...Guardian Sport · 3 Nov, 14:45
• Injury blow for England as Alex Mitchell ruled out of autumn internationalsMitchell suffered a hamstring injury at the weekend.Independent Sport · 3 Nov, 14:35
• England's Mitchell ruled out of Nations ChampionshipScrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the whole of England's Nations Championship after suffering his fourth hamstring injury of the year.BBC News · 3 Nov, 14:31

In this story: Alex Mitchell · England · Northampton · Jack van Poortvliet · Fin Smith · Steve Borthwick · Australia

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