Steve Borthwick poised for another backroom reshuffle?

Lee Blackett’s future at Bath is likely to be resolved one way or another in a matter of weeks, RugbyPass understands.

The Telegraph broke the story on Monday that England want Blackett to become their new attack coach, but a formal offer has yet to be tabled.

Blackett made a positive impression on England’s unbeaten summer tour to Argentina and the USA, having also coached the England A team earlier in the year.

His work with Bath led to those opportunities, with the former Leeds and Rotherham player playing a key role in transforming the West Country sleeping giants from Premiership easy-beats to champions of England.

With Blackett as attack coach, the club’s longstanding try-scoring record for a single Premiership campaign was smashed in 2024/25.

The existing club record of 81 tries from the 26-game 1998/99 season was surpassed in 11 games fewer by a rampant team with a wealth of weapons in its attacking arsenal.

One potential sticking point is that Blackett, who still resides in Leamington Spa, signed a long-term contract extension in January of this year, so it may be costly for England to get their man.

However, Johann van Graan is never one to stand in the way of a person’s international ambitions, and it’s unlikely Bath will play hardball.

If successful, the Telegraph article says that Blackett’s arrival would result in a coaching reshuffle, with current attack coach Richard Wigglesworth moving to defence and current defence coach Joe El-Abd, a long-time friend of head coach Steve Borthwick, taking on a forwards-specific role.

Blackett cut his teeth as a coach at Rotherham, as the then-youngest director of rugby in the Championship, before climbing the ladder by joining Wasps.

Initially appointed as the club’s attack coach, Blackett succeeded Dai Young as DoR when he left the club. Following Wasps’ demise, Blackett was appointed attack coach of the Scarlets and spent a year broadening his knowledge in the URC before Johann van Graan and Bath came calling in May 2023.

On the face of it, there appears to be one obvious candidate if 42-year-old Blackett does move into the Test arena.

Bath legend Mike Catt still has a house in the city and has gained worldwide coaching experience since retiring from playing in 2007, the week after England’s defeat to South Africa in the World Cup final.

After starting out at Irish, Catt has coached at Test level with England, Italy and Ireland, and is currently one year into what is believed to be a three-year deal with the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific.

Port Elizabeth-born Catt will be well-known to Bath Head of Rugby Johann van Graan and is a former team-mate of assistant coach Andy Robinson.

Bath fans, however, will hope he is not needed, and Blackett will stay on board to build on what he has achieved over the past two seasons.