England XV v France XV team news: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso makes his injury return
Exeter Chiefs winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will play his first game in 2025 after being named in Steve Borthwick's England XV to play a France XV at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Feyi-Waboso has been sidelined since December after dislocating his shoulder against Sale Sharks on club duty and has now had surgery on both shoulders, but has been passed fit to make his playing return in the warm-up game ahead of the summer Test series in Argentina, with a stop off to face the USA on the way home.
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England boss Steve Borthwick has named a relatively experienced side for the game against France, despite having 13 players away with the British and Irish Lions. George Ford and Jamie George are named as co-captains of the team in the non-capped game.
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Ted Hill on the blindside flank, and his club teammate and last weekend's Premiership Final player of the match Guy Pepper on the openside, are two of three Bath players dropped straight into the side, with Blue, Black and White club captain Ben Spencer at nine, partnering Ford at half-back.
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In midfield, Gloucester's uncapped centre Seb Atkinson lines up at 12 with Henry Slade outside him at 13.
Going Feyi-Waboso in the back three are Tom Roebuck on the right, and Joe Carpenter at full-back.
Theo Dan, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Chandler Cunningham-South, Jack Kenningham, Alex Dombrandt, Raffi Quirke and Oscar Beard are named as replacements.
'We're excited to be playing at Allianz Stadium and to test ourselves against a strong French side,' said Borthwick.
'I'm really looking forward to seeing this young team get out there and show what they're capable of.
'It's a great opportunity to take another step forward ahead of the summer Tour to Argentina and the US.'
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England's summer Tour includes two Tests in Argentina, followed by a match against the USA in Washington, D.C. The Tour squad will be announced on Monday 23 June.
ENGLAND XV v FRANCE XV
15. Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 4 caps)
13. Henry Slade ( Exeter Chiefs, 72 caps)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso ( Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 99 caps) – co-captain
9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 8 caps)
1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 11 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 101 caps) – co-captain
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 15 caps)
6. Ted Hill (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
7. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
8. Tom Willis (Saracens, 6 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 17 caps)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 7 caps)
18. Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 15 caps)
20. Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, uncapped)
21. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 20 caps)
22. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
23. Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped)
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