Tom Curry a major doubt as England prepare for Australia

Tom Curry is a major doubt for England's autumn opener against Australia, The Guardian reports. The flanker was hurt during Wednesday's full training session, and the match is due at Allianz Stadium on Sunday 8 November, Sky Sports says.

Flankers are the back-row forwards who run hardest around the pitch. Openside flanker, the position Curry usually plays, is the player who fights for the ball on the ground after a tackle, a contest known as the ruck. Tom's brother Ben is in pole position to start there and wear the No7 shirt, according to the Guardian. Ben has not started a England match since the 2025 summer tour of Argentina and the USA.

Both brothers were in England's three-day training camp squad in October, ahead of the Nations Championship home leg. That tournament is the November series of international matches between the sport's top nations, and England's schedule includes back-to-back fixtures.

Head coach Steve Borthwick will finalise the team and announce it on Friday afternoon, 6 November. Until then, nothing is certain for the Curry brothers or for the rest of the back row.

England are already missing several players. Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill are both out of the autumn campaign with injuries, the Guardian says. Kepu Tuipulotu and Archie McParland have also been ruled out of contention for the Australia match weekend. Reuters reported that scrumhalf Alex Mitchell, who is injured, was left out of the squad.

Borthwick named a 36-player squad on 2 November, made up of 20 forwards and 16 backs, England Rugby confirmed. Forwards are the heavier players who win the ball through scrums, lineouts and rucks. Backs run the ball and score most of the tries.

Injuries are a regular part of any international series, and this one has come quickly. Friday's team sheet will show how England plan to cover the gaps, and whether Tom Curry is fit to play. If he is not, the No7 shirt is likely to go to his brother.