Lawrence and Daly dropped from England rugby contracts ahead of 2027 World Cup

Steve Borthwick has cut Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly from England's 25-man centrally contracted squad one year before the Rugby World Cup.

Two established England rugby backs, Ollie Lawrence and Elliot Daly, have been dropped from the country's central contracts list as head coach Steve Borthwick reshapes his squad with the 2027 Rugby World Cup in mind. Borthwick named a 25-man centrally contracted group, and neither Lawrence nor Daly made the cut. Central contracts are significant because they tie players directly to the Rugby Football Union, giving the national coaching staff greater control over their training and availability. The omissions signal a clear shift in Borthwick's thinking about which players will form the core of his World Cup campaign, with approximately one year until that tournament begins.

Why it matters

Central contracts determine which players are prioritised by the national setup, so losing one can significantly affect a player's path back into the England squad. With the World Cup a year away, these selections indicate who Borthwick sees as part of his long-term plans.

What's next

Lawrence and Daly will need to perform at club level to force their way back into England contention before the World Cup squad is finalised.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

Only one source covers this rugby story, and it focuses on the outcome (who lost contracts) rather than providing detailed reasoning from Borthwick or responses from the dropped players. The second source provided covers an entirely different sport (cricket) and was not relevant to this story. The absence of any stated rationale from the coach or the RFU is a notable gap in the reporting.

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