Borthwick urges England to improve discipline ahead of Nations Championship

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 1 Nov, 16:58 · Archive

England coach Steve Borthwick is calling on his players to reduce penalties and cards after receiving 14 yellow cards and one red card in 2026.

England coach Steve Borthwick is calling on his players to act smarter and keep 15 players on the field as the team prepares for a pivotal month in the Nations Championship. Borthwick's side have been shown 14 yellow cards and one red in 2026 to date and have lost five of their past seven Tests, partly as a result of their discipline problems.

Borthwick attended a meeting with referees on Sunday ahead of next weekend's match against Australia, seeking clarity on how the November games will be officiated. He has identified the breakdown as a key area requiring improvement, noting that English clubs lost more ball at the breakdown in the recent Champions Cup round than clubs from any other nation. Borthwick said his squad must learn to adapt to different refereeing interpretations at international level.

Prop Ellis Genge has called the timing of a mid-season law change preventing 'hip drop' tackles 'berserk', but accepts England must improve their disciplinary record. Borthwick has highlighted the contact area and breakdown as aspects the team needs to work on to bridge the gap between club and Test rugby.

How it is being reported

• Borthwick: England must quickly adjust from Prem to Test rugby for Nations ChampionshipSteve Borthwick admits England need to bridge the gap between the Prem and Test rugby quickly if they’re to have a successful autumn campaign.Sky Sports · 1 Nov, 16:17
• Steve Borthwick seeks clarity from referees in bid to address England’s discipline problemsSteve Borthwick seeks clarity on rugby laws as England aims to fix discipline problems before the Nations Championship returnIndependent Sport · 1 Nov, 16:00
• Borthwick urges England players to improve discipline at Nations ChampionshipCoach says of need to adjust to refereeing interpretations Genge calls timing of ‘hip-drop’ tackle law change ‘beserk’ Steve Borthwick is urging his England players to act smarter and recognise the vital importance of keeping 15 players on the field before a pivotal month for the national team. Borthwick’s side have been shown 14 yellow cards and one red in 2026 to date and, partly as a consequence, have lost five of their past seven Tests. Borthwick is also concerned that different refereeing interpretations in the domestic Prem are not helping England at international level, with the…The Guardian · 1 Nov, 16:00

In this story: Steve Borthwick · Ellis Genge · England · Australia · Rugby Football Union

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