Jamie George defends Borthwick as England leaders address unrest report

Jamie George has defended England head coach Steve Borthwick after a newspaper report raised claims of unrest within the national squad. Speaking to BBC Rugby Union Weekly, the hooker said he did not recognise the account and disputed much of it. He said England's players had discussed the report together and were disappointed by its portrayal of their environment.

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According to BBC Sport, the Times report alleged that unhappy players sought talks with Borthwick and Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney during England's July visit to Argentina. It also raised claims about disagreements within the coaching group and Borthwick's management of players. Those remain disputed allegations: George rejected the suggestion of a toxic atmosphere, while Borthwick told the BBC that he did not recognise the depiction either.

George said captain Maro Itoje convened a meeting of the team's leaders to consider the article. The Saracens forward argued that its effect would be to bring the squad closer together, and called for players to support their coach. He also questioned its timing, with England due to face Australia at Twickenham on Sunday. George previously held the England captaincy after Borthwick appointed him in 2024, before Itoje took over the following year.

Addressing the Argentina trip specifically, George acknowledged that there had been an edge to the team's work but said senior players were expected to challenge Borthwick. He described the coach as receptive to feedback and said discussions operated in both directions. Borthwick similarly characterised meetings between senior players and coaches as a routine part of a coaching structure, rather than evidence in themselves of a breakdown.

The response comes after a difficult run of results for England. BBC Sport reported that victories over Fiji and Argentina ended a sequence of five defeats. England's most recent match was a 31-24 victory over Argentina in Santiago del Estero in July. Their previous appearance at Twickenham ended in a 42-21 defeat by Ireland in February.

Those results contrast with England's 2025 campaign, when Borthwick's side won 11 of 12 matches, including a victory over New Zealand. Australia are their first opponents in the autumn campaign, followed by Japan and then New Zealand. George's public defence focused on the squad's relationship with its coach, maintaining that internal challenge and review did not amount to the damaging environment alleged in the report.