Bristol Bears duo Ellis Genge and Harry Randall have been named in England's match day 23 to face Ireland on Saturday in the opening game of the 2024/25 Guinness Six Nations.

Loose head prop Genge has been named as vice-captain to Maro Itoje in the Saracens lock's first game as England skipper. Bears dynamo Randall will start on the bench at the Aviva Stadium with Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell fit to start having recovered from an injury he suffered playing for his club in the Champions Cup.

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In the front row, Luke Cowan-Dickie is named at hooker alongside Genge and Bath 's Will Stuart at tighthead. In the second row, Itoje partners George Martin. The back row sees Tom Curry on the blindside flank, his twin-brother Ben Curry at openside and Ben Earl at number eight.

Harlequins star Marcus Smith has win the race for the 10 jersey. The midfield sees Exeter Chiefs' Henry Slade named at inside centre with Bath's Ollie Lawrence at 13. In the back three, Cadan Murley will make his England debut on the left wing, with Tommy Freeman on the right and Freddie Steward at full-back, rounding off the starting line-up.

Theo Dan, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ollie Chessum, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Randall and Fin Smith take their places on a 6-2 split replacements bench.

IRELAND v ENGLAND

Saturday 1 February 2025
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 4.45pm (GMT)

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
1. Ellis Genge ( Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)

Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 16 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 6 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 11 caps)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)
22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 11 caps)
23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)