A packed crowd fills the main assembly hall at Warwick School to hear from Fin Smith, the England fly-half who has returned to his alma mater on the eve of a crunch autumn campaign.

There is plenty to discuss – England’s fortunes less than a year out from the World Cup, Smith’s personal ambitions, PREM Rugby’s try avalanche, Henry Pollock’s elaborate haircuts... but first, a reality check. ‘I’ve got your GCSE PE fitness test here,’ Warwick headmaster James Barker says ominously to his former pupil.

‘Bleep test... OK, your number of sit-ups a minute... not bad, 3.58 seconds for a 30-metre sprint... this is a message of hope for all of us – you can be bang average and still play for the Lions!’

By Smith’s own admission, he is not ‘the most athletically gifted player’. But he got all A*s at A-Level (biology, chemistry and maths) and was head boy at Warwick. Now, he is top of English rugby’s fly-half class and, after brushing off a calf injury, ready to lead Steve Borthwick’s side into their Nations Championship opener with Australia on Sunday.

‘I’m not sure what’s happened to your facial hair,’ Smith retorts, now able to answer back to Barker, who is sporting a handlebar moustache. ‘It must be a mid-life crisis! I did like my studies here. I was a bit of a goody two-shoes. 

'There’s a big asterisk beside my grades though because I did my A-Levels in Covid and I think they just gave you whatever you wanted! Not so long ago I was a pupil in this room, just enjoying my rugby and loving coming to school with my mates. To be back here now is surreal. I’m trying to get out of the habit of calling the teachers sir!’

Smith’s Warwick return provided a rare chance for him to reflect on his journey to date. Still only 24, he is already a two-time PREM Rugby champion with Northampton and now one of England’s most important figures after winning a race against his rivals and his fitness to keep hold of the No10 jersey.

He is honest about where England are at ahead of November Tests with the Wallabies, Japan and New Zealand, following five defeats in their last seven and the worst Six Nations in the country's history.

‘Let’s call a spade a spade. We didn’t do very well in the Six Nations,’ says Smith. ‘We got a bit wrong. It’s hard to assess where we are. I think we had a decent summer. The loss in South Africa was tough. But they’re an unbelievable side and beating Fiji and then Argentina away were good results.

'More importantly, I think the style of play we’re looking to use with England suits me, the type of players we’ve got, and the style of play we’ve seen in the PREM. There have been a lot of tries. I think it’s fun and rugby is better for it.

‘There are times with England when we will obviously have to kick the ball, but we’re looking to make a shift to being a team that wants to attack. All fly-halves love the sound of their own voice and feeling like they’ve got control! 

'I want us to play and attack. It’s been great to have the backing of the coaches. But I also know if I have a couple of stinkers, I’ll be out of the team. I need to make sure I don’t muck it up! We’ll find out where we’re really at after this autumn.’

With next year’s World Cup in Australia looming, a defining campaign awaits England. After the momentum of a 12-match winning run was brought to a shuddering halt in the Six Nations, there is significant work to do.

England have the players to bid for glory Down Under. But to make up ground on the elites of South Africa, France and New Zealand, consistency in selection and clarity of approach are fundamental. One thing is widely acknowledged – Smith is the right man to guide the ship.

To describe him as unflashy would be to underplay his fine ability. But Smith’s greatest attribute is that he brings out the best of those around him. That’s what he does at club level with Northampton. With more time in the saddle, he can do so for England too.

‘When I first started, I thought the coaches were looking for all the flashy stuff – nice tries and chip and chases,’ says Smith, who came through the Worcester academy before making the switch across the Midlands when the Warriors went bust in 2022. 

‘Now I realise they are looking for a 10 who is a really good communicator. Someone who is not afraid to boss anyone around and has a strong skillset. I’ve never been the biggest or the fastest, but I’d like to think my team-mates would say I’m one of the hardest workers.

'I started at Worcester and when they went bust, some of my best mates had their careers pulled away in a matter of weeks. I feel a responsibility to them to make every day count.'

So ahead of what could be the biggest year of his career, how does Smith make the next 365 days count?

'At the start of each season, I reflect and set new goals,' he says. 'This year for me there are three – win the PREM again with Northampton, have a crack at winning in Europe, and be the England fly-half at the World Cup.

'It’s quite weird saying that out loud. I grew up watching videos of Jonny Wilkinson in an England No 10 shirt kicking a World Cup final-winning drop-goal in Australia. The fact that’s potentially less than a year away for me makes me hungrier than ever to put everything into this season. That would be me achieving a lifelong dream.

‘I’m lucky enough to know Jonny really well now and have him as a mentor. His drop-goal is the most iconic moment in English rugby. It would be pretty cool to try and recreate that!

'He’s the sort of character that within the first couple of minutes of meeting him, he makes you feel like the superstar and he’s a nobody. It’s slightly strange. He’s an amazing coach and every so often, he puts you back in your place when he pings a 50-metre drop goal off his wrong foot. He’s still got it!

'I text him most days and we call every other week or so. He’s helped me so much, not just with my kicking but the mental side of things too. He’s also quite a cool name drop to have in your back pocket!’

At Warwick, pupils are constantly told of the importance of the school’s Latin motto altiora peto – ‘I seek higher things’. With Smith at the helm, that must be the aim for England this month.

‘I remember being a pupil at Warwick, looking out of a maths lesson, and seeing the first XV kickers. I looked up to them as superstars,’ he says. 'I used to think it would be so cool if that was me. That is why it was so important to me to come back here and present my England and Lions shirts to the school.

‘If a few people here put on their TV in the next month, watch me play for England and think to themselves, “That’s Fin, he went to the same school as me”, I think that’s pretty cool. Hopefully, I can inspire others. That would mean as much to me as any trophy.’ 

Quickfire Q&A: Fin Smith

Best advice for young players?

The older I’ve got, the more I’ve learned to play on instinct. I try to see space on the field and use it. I don’t try and overcomplicate things.

Best part about being famous?

I’m not famous! Every so often you get some free stuff. I’ve just moved house and got a free mattress. My Scottish heritage means I’m tight, so that was good!

Have you ever had doubts? 

I lost a lot of confidence after the Lions tour. I didn’t play as well as I would have liked and maybe fell out of love with rugby a little bit. That wasn’t a healthy mindset for someone who is still very young. I try to see rugby for what it is. It’s my job, but it’s also just a sport and it should be something you enjoy, even if you’re playing at the highest level.

What do you make of Eddie Hearn’s involvement in rugby?

It’s great. Rugby is a little bit old school and maybe some people don’t like those who are outspoken. But in terms of getting more eyes on the game, you can see he’s good at that. He’s done it with lots of other sports.

What’s it like when you’re injured?

It’s really difficult. At Northampton, we make a big thing about involving injured players. It’s easy when you’re injured to feel like you’re cast away. It’s important to use any injury as a positive and not a negative. For example, if you’ve hurt your lower body, use extra time to work on your passing.

Toughest opponent?

Malcolm Marx, the South African hooker. I ran into him when we played them in the summer and he didn’t move. I hit the floor, looked up, and he just smiled. I thought to myself, 'I’m in the wrong sport!'. He’s a big angry man. I was sore for the next week!

Twickenham verdict?

It’s the best rugby stadium in the world. My fondest memory there was when we beat France in the last play on my first England start (in 2025). I genuinely felt the ground shaking. We want to bring that back and give the supporters something to cheer about. Singing the national anthem there will never get old. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it.

And finally... what did you think of Henry Pollock’s cornrows?

I thought it was very clever. He’s playing well and with a fancy haircut, people will always talk about you! He’s the most talented individual I’ve ever come across. It’s infuriating. I’ve never seen a player who rises to the big occasion like he does. He relishes it.