Quilter Nations Series: England v Fiji
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Date: Saturday, 8 November
Kick-off: 17:40 GMT
Coverage: Live on Radio 5 Sports Extra; live text on the BBC Sport website and app
England prop and captain Ellis Genge says the confrontational, physical side of rugby is central to its appeal and should be embraced rather than suppressed. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match with Fiji, Genge — who will captain the side with Maro Itoje on the bench — defended the sport’s abrasive nature and suggested that fans come partly for that intensity because ‘society’s gone quite soft’.
Genge, who was involved in an injury-time skirmish in last weekend’s win over Australia, downplayed the incident as ‘a bit of argy-bargy’ and said he enjoys the animosity and aggression that define rugby. His view mirrors a broader tone in English rugby this season: the Premiership has explicitly highlighted big hits and physicality as part of its rebrand.
Off the field, Genge admits the demands of international rugby take a toll on family life. A father of three who spent six weeks with the British and Irish Lions over the summer, he said returning to England camp for the autumn tests has been emotionally difficult. ‘I don’t like leaving them at home anymore,’ he said, acknowledging why some players — like Joe Marler in the past — have stepped away to prioritise family.
At the same time, Genge is clear about his commitment when he’s with the team: ‘If I’m here, I’m all in. You’ve got to be unapologetically committed to the situation.’
This will be his third time leading England. His previous two outings as captain were heavy defeats — the 53-10 loss to France at Twickenham in March 2023 and a 20-9 defeat by Wales in a World Cup warm-up. Genge joked about the record but said those difficult moments helped the team grow, describing setbacks as opportunities to improve.
Genge says his leadership comes through emotion and example rather than tactical instruction. ‘I’m not much of a tactician,’ he admitted, adding that he’s best at motivating teammates on the emotional and physical side of the game rather than diagramming plays on a whiteboard.
Coach Steve Borthwick praised those leadership qualities, saying Genge can communicate powerfully with little more than a look and calling him ‘a proud man, a fantastic bloke, brilliant rugby player and an outstanding leader.’
As England prepare to face Fiji, Genge’s message is straightforward: accept and celebrate rugby’s confrontational edge while balancing the personal sacrifices international duty requires.
