England set to make Steve Borthwick contract decision in bid to avoid Rugby World Cup ‘uncertainty’
England head coach Steve Borthwick looks set to earn a fresh contract with the RFU
The RFU are set to offer England head coach Steve Borthwick a fresh contract to take him through to the 2028 Six Nations.
Borthwick, who took the coaching reins from Eddie Jones in 2022, is under contract with the national side until next year’s World Cup, but looks set to extend his stint with the union in an effort to avoid uncertainty over his future at the showpiece global tournament.
This follows a precedent from the governing body, with Red Roses head coach John Mitchell also having his deal extended past the World Cup. He later signed a fresh long-term deal at the start of the year, following his side’s World Cup triumph.
‘You can’t have a group of coaches going in with that uncertainty’
However, Borthwick has been under serious pressure in 2026 following England’s worst-ever Six Nations campaign, but received the backing of chief executive Bill Sweeney to take England through the Nations Championship and into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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England returned to winning ways in July, following successive victories against Fiji and Argentina.
“You don’t want them looking for a job going into [a World Cup],” RFU performance director Connor O’Shea explained to BBC Five Live’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
“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.
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“So we will give that certainty, and that will give us time to look properly.”
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“I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to succeed more than anything you can imagine.
“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? 100%. If over this next 12 months this England team shows the best version of itself, I know it can beat anyone in the world.”
