George Furbank was tipped to be a Six Nations smash after returning to action with Northampton at the weekend. Full-back Furbank played his first match for over a month in Saints’ 35-33 Prem Cup win over Saracens on Saturday and is now set to win his first England cap since November 2024. The 29-year-old got a rousing reception when leaving the pitch at Franklin’s Gardens, after scoring a try in his 64-minute stay, and is in the frame to face Italy in Rome this weekend.

Furbank was included in a 36-man party that joined up at England’s Bagshot base last night (Sunday) to prepare for the Italy game. Centre Ollie Lawrence is the only player from the 23 who lost 42-21 to Ireland in round three not to be included as he rehabs a knee injury but Bristol prop George Kloska does get a spot. Furbank has been missing from the Test stage after a frustrating run of injuries, including a broken arm, calf issues and a concussion.

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But boss Steve Borthwick is desperate to get him involved and he could get switched for Freddie Steward at 15 and be charged with igniting England’s stale attack. Northampton assistant coach James Craig said: “George was class out there. He is international quality and when he gets a decent run of games he is going to be a special player.

“I am sure England will be delighted to see him out there doing his thing, getting that amount of time and playing the way he did. He was involved in so many of the good things we did through the time he was on the field. It is up to England whether he plays but he is looking good.”

Borthwick’s squad are bidding to put things back on track after harrowing defeats to Scotland and Ireland. Chandler Cunningham-South, who could get promoted into the matchday 23 for Rome, was another to advertise his claims with a try in Harlequins’ 35-14 win over Newcastle before he was replaced after 54 minutes.

And Gloucester Seb Atkinson is also included in the 36-man squad after impressing in a losing cause in Gloucester’s 38-26 defeat at Bath.

Borthwick has three fly-halves in camp George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith, with the latter pushing Ford hard for the starting 10 shirt whilst the 9s, with Alex Mitchell out, are Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Spencer and Raffi Quirke. The head coach is expected to name his line-up for Rome on Tuesday.