England coach set for shock departure after the Rugby World Cup – report

England head coach Steve Borthwick will move forward without his defence guru Kevin Sinfield, according to reports.

The Telegraph have claimed that Sinfield will leave Borthwick’s backroom team following the Rugby World Cup and will be replaced in the role by Felix Jones.

It had already been announced that Jones would join the Red Rose after the World Cup, but the initial indication was that he would be alongside Sinfield in the coaching team.

May’s press release

From the press release in May, which confirmed Jones’ arrival, Borthwick said: “Like with Aled Walters, Felix was an integral part of the team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

“Together with Richard Wigglesworth and Kevin Sinfield, we are putting in place a coaching team who have spent their careers at the highest level competing for trophies. That is exactly what we want for this England team.”

However, it appears as though Sinfield is not seen as being part of England’s long-term future and will instead exit the set-up in January.

That is when Jones will arrive and take charge of the defence ahead of the 2024 Six Nations, which starts in February.

Sinfield joined the Red Rose as part of Borthwick’s coaching ticket when they left Leicester Tigers for the national team.

The rugby league legend was key to Leicester’s revival, which culminated in the Midlands club lifting the Premiership title in 2022 – their first domestic success in nine years.

Highly-rated

After Eddie Jones was sacked in December 2022 at the end of an abysmal year for the England side, Borthwick and Sinfield were hired to turn around their fortunes.

The defence coach initially struggled to get his ideas across as the Red Rose faltered in the Six Nations.

They were then exposed during the Rugby World Cup warm-ups, but it came together at the global tournament where their rearguard looked the best its been for some time.

England’s defence was solid for the most part during the World Cup and played a key role in their semi-final clash against South Africa, but the defending champions eventually prevailed 16-15.

This weekend’s bronze medal match therefore looks set to be Sinfield’s last, with The Telegraph reporting that his departure is a ‘mutual’ one.

READ MORE: England great Courtney Lawes to retire from Test rugby after the World Cup