From benchwarmer to upgraded contract
Alex Coles has spent a long time waiting for his chance with England. Between 2022 and 2025, the Northampton lock managed only seven caps, more of an occasional call-up than a regular starter. Last year’s tour of Argentina changed everything. Since then, Coles has kept rolling: 15 straight starts in the pink shirt since July 2025, a run that tells you all you need to know about the shift in his standing in Steve Borthwick’s mind.
That consistency has now been rewarded. Coles was one of 25 players to receive an upgraded Elite Player Squad contract last month. It is a first for him, after years spent hovering on the edge of the tighter group.
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Motivation, not a guarantee
Coles himself is not getting carried away. “It doesn’t guarantee anything at all, but it gives you that extra motivation to keep working hard and try to make sure you secure your place in the team and in the squad,” he said. It is a clear-eyed take that cuts through the symbolism of a deal usually handed to the players the England staff see as locked-in starters.
Coles is not shying away from the longer-term dream either. A Rugby World Cup is still in the back of his mind, but it is not turning into an obsession. The Northampton man would rather stay focused on the here and now, game by game, season by season, than get ahead of himself with a target that still sits a long way off.
A sign for the whole group
Beyond Coles himself, the promotion says plenty about Steve Borthwick’s approach since taking charge of the Red Roses. Reward consistency rather than raw talent alone, even if it means some players have to wait years for a crack at the wider squad. For Alex Coles, the wait has lasted three years. On the evidence of his comments, it has only hardened his edge and given him more reason to prove it on the field.
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