Tom Curry reveals biggest takeaway from British & Irish Lions tour - and how England plan to develop 'identity' after Steve Borthwick coaching changes
By Tom Masters
Updated 23/09/2025 at 12:08 GMT+1
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After starring on the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia over the summer, Tom Curry is preparing for life back on home soil, not only for club Sale Sharks, but also for England. And there is a huge amount on the line in a crucial autumn, with renewed competition all over the pitch following England's tour to Argentina, and a rejigged coaching set-up under Steve Borthwick.
What did Curry take away from Lions tour?
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tom Curry says England will look to develop their "identity" as a huge autumn nears for Steve Borthwick and his side.
Sale Sharks flanker Curry, 27, thrived with the British and Irish Lions this summer in Australia, scoring crucial tries in the first and second Tests as the Lions took the series 2-1.
After a period of rest and recovery, the flanker is now focussing on a huge autumn for club and country, with the Gallagher PREM season starting on September 25, and England facing some mouthwatering tests in the Quilter Nations Series, live in the UK on TNT Sports and discovery+,.
"I think it is a really exciting time [with England]," Curry told TNT Sports' Ugo Monye.
"Obviously you can win the trophy in the Six Nations but to have the Quilter Nations Series and have such strong and different opposition - it is going to be exciting.
"We have learned lessons in the past with how we have retained those players [newer players in the England squad over recent seasons], but also the exciting players that came on in the summer and to see how well they have done.
"It is inspiring but also exciting to add them into the fold and push for competition."
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Steve Borthwick’s men will meet Argentina again at Twickenham in November, along with Australia, Fiji and New Zealand in a packed Quilter Nations Series, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
As well as some potentially new faces on the pitch, there will be a new look to the coaching team.
PREM-winning Bath attack coach Lee Blackett has joined on a permanent basis after a successful audition in the summer, in a move which sees Richard Wigglesworth shift to defence coach.
Bath ended their trophy drought in style last season with a treble, scoring 96 tries at an average of over five per game in the PREM regular season.
That style could shape up differently from where England were previously, and it is another factor that makes Curry buzzing to wear white again.
"We’ve not even spoken about new coaches yet," he added.
"I think we have to develop an identity and push it on, but adding different bits of exciting talent and ideas, I think it is going to be something to look forward to."
'Look up more in attack'
Curry followed up playing all three Tests in the 2021 Lions tour to South Africa with three more in Australia.
The notable difference between those two tours was winning and losing, but Curry also made the most of being able to get to know his team-mates properly this time after the Covid-ridden series four years ago.
That seemed to bring out something scarcely seen from him before – an attacking threat – which was clear to see as the Sale star ended the Test series as the joint-top try scorer alongside Dan Sheehan.
When asked what his main takeaways from the tour were, he added: "That balance of obviously pushing each other, training hard but also that balance of that fun off the field and how much you connect.
"But not fun as in just going for nights out and stuff, it’s meeting for coffees, having genuine dinners with each other, having meaningful conversations is a big one, and actually getting to know someone rather than just the surface-level stuff.
"Professionally, probably just the ability to look up a bit more in attack and just to go to where you think you’re needed or where you think you can make a bigger impact.
"There are obviously different things that encompass that, but I think just trying to make stuff happen in attack.
"I’ve been hiding that all this time! It was a combination of learning and just wanting to do it and I think just being a student of what we were trying to do, I think that helped."
How to watch the Quilter Nations Series
Starting with England and Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, 1 November, fans can also enjoy all 21 matches from the upcoming Quilter Nations Series.
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