Report: RFU ready to stick by Steve Borthwick beyond Rugby World Cup 2027

Steve Borthwick is set to be awarded a contract extension by the RFU through to 2028, according to a report in The Telegraph today.

The 46-year-old Lancastrian first took charge of England ahead of the 2023 Six Nations, and led them to the semi-finals of that year’s Rugby World Cup.

He has won 57.4% of his Tests (28/48) as head coach since succeeding Eddie Jones, and will join double Grand Slam winner and fellow northerner Geoff Cooke on 50 Tests when England play Japan on Saturday, 14 November, at Allianz Stadium.

Only Sir Clive Woodward and Jones have overseen more than 50 Tests.

Even so, the former England lock has never properly won over England supporters, despite leading the team to a 12-game winning run, with this year’s Six Nations performance a low point.

England suffered their worst-ever Championship of fifth, since the competition went to six teams, and there has been constant rumours about his job being on the line.

However, in a show of faith, the RFU are ready to extend his tenure beyond next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, while keeping the coaching team around him intact.

Quoted in The Telegraph, RFU performance difrector Conor O’Shea said: “You don’t want them looking for a job going into [a World Cup].

“Everyone knows it will be judged on the World Cup, but you can’t have a group of coaches going in with that uncertainty, especially when you look at the timing. So we will give that certainty, and that will give us time to look properly.

“I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to succeed more than anything you can imagine,” O’Shea added.

“This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams who can win the World Cup next year. I believe this team can win a World Cup.

“Is the talent there? One hundred per cent. If over this next 12 months this England team shows the best version of itself, I know it can beat anyone in the world.”