The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has taken steps to formally recognise former players who have represented England against international opposition between 1945 and 1993, but, for different reasons outside of the player's control, remained uncapped.
This follows similar action taken by the Scottish Rugby Union in 2023 and the Irish Rugby Football Union in 2024. The RFU has adhered to the same process as its two sister unions.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, a series of Victory Internationals were played. Players selected for these teams were uncapped on the grounds that so many international standard players were unavailable for selection, due to them remaining overseas and involved with the war effort. It is now acknowledged that given the continual selection of international rugby players from within the armed forces throughout the history of the English national team that these circumstances were not unique to these years.
The uncapped England players amongst these have now been 'capped' and upgraded to full internationals on account of them being the best players available to represent their country at the time.
Between 1958 and 1981, the International Rugby Board (now World Rugby) did not allow member unions to award 'Test' status to international matches between sides, other than those who were members of the Board, or France. As a consequence players that played in these matches, but not Test matches, remained uncapped.
In 1981, the Board removed these capping restrictions but the Rugby Football Union kept them in place for England matches until 1993. Consequently players who played in international matches, but not Test matches, in this period also remained uncapped.
While the matches that these players played in remain 'non-Test', the RFU has now taken the decision to upgrade these uncapped players to full internationals in recognition that they represented England with distinction and on merit.
A capping ceremony took place at the World Rugby Museum, Allianz Stadium on 8 June 2026 and caps will be sent to the families of those players who are no longer with us.
