Bill Sweeney has shut down any suggestion of extending Steve Borthwick’s contract early, despite the England head coach steering his side to an 11-match winning streak.
Borthwick, who took charge in December 2022, is contracted until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. While previous England bosses have often been tied down well in advance, Sweeney made it clear that no such talks are happening.
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“His contract goes through to 2027,” said Sweeney. “We are obviously delighted with the direction it is going in. We actually saw [progress] in 2024. It’s easy with hindsight now, but with those narrow losses in 24, we knew the trajectory the team was on.
“Narrow loss to Australia, the loss to New Zealand that could have gone the other way. We were confident at that stage that it was going in the right direction.
“I think what you’ve seen this year with the depth that the squad is building, the style of play he is developing, we are really happy with that. We haven’t got into any discussions about post-27.”
RUCK sources have previously reported that the RFU is highly reluctant to extend Borthwick’s deal—not because of any dissatisfaction with his work, but due to the lessons learned from the prolonged regimes of Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward, both of which ended sourly.
As things stand, regardless of how England perform through to the next World Cup, the expectation is that Borthwick will step aside after 2027.
FAVOURITES TO REPLACE STEVE BORTHWICK:
The Old Master – Sir Clive Woodward (100/1)
England’s only World Cup-winning coach remains the ultimate reference point for success in red and white. More pundit than practitioner these days, Woodward’s gravitas still resonates — but in the modern RFU landscape, he’s more romantic longshot than realistic contender.
The Mastermind – Rassie Erasmus (20/1)
A two-time World Cup winner, tactical disruptor, and social-media provocateur, Erasmus is one of rugby’s most brilliant — and divisive — thinkers. Tempting him from South Africa would be ambitious, but few CVs shine brighter. He’s even said he’d “love to coach England.”
The Forwards Fixer – Richard Cockerill (15/1)
Once Leicester’s fiery hooker, now a seasoned international coach with Georgia and Black Lion, Cockerill blends grit with evolution. His deep English roots and forward-dominant mantra make him an intriguing outside bet. Expect scrums, mauls, and bite.
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