Feyi-Waboso and Mitchell Cleared for Prem Final Return
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- Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Alex Mitchell are set for surprise returns in Saturday's Prem final between Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium (15:00 BST), after both were previously expected to miss the rest of the domestic season.
- Feyi-Waboso is recovering from surgery on a facial fracture sustained in Exeter's win over Leicester at the end of May; Borthwick said a 'period of preparation this week' must pass first before he's available for selection.
- Mitchell strained his hamstring at an England training camp the previous week, and England head of performance Phil Morrow was in Northampton watching him train 'just a few days ago' as he passed fitness markers.
- Under enhanced elite player squad (EPS) contracts introduced in 2024, England have the final say on treatment, conditioning and match availability of their top stars — a framework that has previously caused public medical staff disagreements with clubs over Feyi-Waboso's shoulder injury.
- Phil Dowson, Northampton's director of rugby, has spoken of his 'frustration' over Mitchell's hamstring injury, which came on an alignment camp three months after a similar problem against Ireland in the Six Nations.
- Borthwick defended the process as more collaborative than portrayed, saying big club games with 'trophies on the line' are the best Test preparation ahead of England's summer matches against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
- Exeter wing Campbell Ridl came off with an apparent injury in the semi-final win over Bath — a game Feyi-Waboso watched from the away end at The Rec — while 21-year-old Archie McParland has deputised at scrum-half during Mitchell's absence.
Why it matters: Borthwick is gambling that releasing his two stars to the Prem final sharpens them for England's summer Test series against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, but the EPS contract's final-say power continues to generate friction with clubs — Dowson's public 'frustration' over Mitchell's camp injury is the latest flashpoint in a system that previously saw England and Exeter medical staff publicly clash over Feyi-Waboso's shoulder treatment.
