George Hendy Makes His Case for an England Call-Up

Northampton Saints winger George Hendy wants to play for England, and he says he is serious about it. Speaking to BBC Sport, the 24-year-old said he is determined to force his way into contention before next month's Nations Championship matches.

Hendy plays on the wing, the outside edge of the field where the fastest runners usually work. He said he would be happy to play there or at 15, the back-three role at the far end of the pitch, whichever gives him the best chance of a place in the squad.

He is not new to England's set-up. He is a former England Under-20 international, and he played for England A this year against Ireland XV at Thomond Park in Limerick. England A is the national team's developmental side, a step below the senior squad. Last year he hoped to be picked for England's summer tour of Argentina and the United States, but he was overlooked.

Hendy is also a proven big-game player at club level. He made match-winning contributions in Northampton's Premiership final victories in 2024 and 2026. On 18 October, the Telegraph reported that he inspired Saints to a win over Cardiff, a result it said saved Premiership Rugby from a complete Champions Cup washout. The Champions Cup is Europe's top club competition, and a washout means a round in which English clubs collect no wins.

He has also said he has talked with England coaches about what he needs to do to reach the next level. That is a useful conversation for any young player, because selection is rarely about one good game. Coaches look for consistency, fitness and the ability to fit a team's plan, especially in a squad where places are tight.

England head coach Steve Borthwick will name a training squad on Sunday to prepare for the November leg of the Nations Championship. A training squad is a larger group who train together, and not every name in it will play. England are then scheduled to host Australia, Japan and New Zealand in London before the finals weekend at the end of the month.

Hendy has signed a new deal to stay at Northampton beyond this season, so his club future is settled. The next question is whether his England future can be settled in the same way. For now, he is making his argument on the training field and in interviews, and Sunday's squad will show whether it has landed.