Steve Borthwick leaves England captain Maro Itoje out of his squad for this summer’s Nations Championship.

Itoje has been rested after going beyond World Rugby’s recommended 30-game limit in each of the last two seasons. It also comes after a relentless run that included leading the British and Irish Lions to a series win over Australia last summer.

In his absence, leadership returns to Jamie George, who steps back into the captaincy having previously held the role before Itoje took over, and again during periods of rotation in the Six Nations.

There’s a clear emphasis on youth and opportunity in this squad, with five uncapped players included. One of the standout selections is teenage Saracens wing Noah Caluori, who gets the nod ahead of Adam Radwan, Tom Roebuck and Henry Arundell. The 19-year-old has had a breakthrough season, finishing joint top of the Premiership try charts with 18, and looking seriously dangerous in the air.

Elsewhere, Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg is included and will become eligible for England via residency in time for the Tests against Fiji and Argentina in July. In the midfield, there’s a blend of experience and rotation, with Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade and Seb Atkinson all selected, while Ollie Lawrence, Fraser Dingwall and Tom Litchfield miss out.

In the pack, uncapped Exeter number eight Greg Fisilau is named as Ben Earl’s backup, particularly with Alex Dombrandt ruled out after injury against a France XV. Guy Pepper is back from injury in the back row, while George Kloska and Vilikesa Sela are both in line to make their first England appearances.

Itoje’s absence also changes the picture in the second row. George Martin returns after a long spell out and will be looking to build on that huge World Cup semi-final showing against South Africa, while Arthur Clark is in the squad again after his solitary cap against the United States.

There’s flexibility in the front row too, with Asher Opoku-Fordjour included and able to cover both sides of the scrum. That becomes important with Ellis Genge only recently back from injury, and Bevan Rodd and Fin Baxter both unavailable.

Out wide, England are light on specialist wings, with only Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Cadan Murley and Caluori selected. That could open the door again for Tommy Freeman to be used on the wing rather than in the centres.

Borthwick has admitted the new Nations Championship format will be a proper test. England open against South Africa in Johannesburg, then face Fiji in Liverpool, before finishing the tour in Argentina against the Pumas in Santiago del Estero.

He said the squad has been picked to balance experience with fresh faces, and that the travel, altitude and shifting conditions will make this a very different kind of summer. Preparation, he added, will be key if England are to cope with what’s coming.

Nations Championship squad

Forwards: Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Coles (Northampton Saints), Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Curry (Sale Sharks), Dan (Saracens), Earl (Saracens), Ewels (Bath Rugby), Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs), Genge (Bristol Bears), George (Saracens), Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Hill (Bath Rugby), Kloska (Bristol Bears), Martin (Leicester Tigers), Obano (Bath Rugby), Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Pepper (Bath Rugby), Pollock (Northampton Saints), Sela (Bath Rugby).

Backs: S Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Caluori (Saracens), Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), Ford (Sale Sharks), Freeman (Northampton Saints), Furbank (Northampton Saints), Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears), Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Murley (Harlequins), Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Smith (Northampton Saints), Smith (Harlequins), Spencer (Bath Rugby), Steward (Leicester Tigers), van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).