Four Potential Successors to Steve Borthwick as England Boss When His Contract Expires

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community for all the latest news direct to your phone.

Reflecting on past decisions, the RFU has learned from the extended tenures of Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward and is prepared for Borthwick to step down, even if England clinches the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia.

Here, we explore the current odds on who might succeed Borthwick as the next England head coach.

Rob Baxter, who guided the Devon-based club from the Championship to European champions in 10 years has done this largely with a core of players that have come through the academy at Exeter.

With this season's club performance not at the level of previous years, it may be time for him to move on and into the Test game in the near futuree.

Although Baxter joined the England coaching team for the summer tour to Argentina and Uruguay in March 2013, he has no experience outside of Exeter. "I would be happy to have a chat about what the role is, how they see it working and what their plans and ambitions are," Baxter said of the England job back in December.

"Unless you know what it is, it's hard to say yes or no to anything. At the same time, I'm not looking for another job! I'm very happy here," he added.

Despite having signed a contract extension until 2025, Andy Farrell would likely be at the top of the list for the RFU if they were to make another coaching change, regardless of how well Ireland performs during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Currently, one of the coaches England would be most interested in having is Farrell, who is achieving impressive results and playing styles across the Irish Sea.

However, whether or not Farrell would want to return to the RFU, where he was previously the defence coach between 2011 and 2015 under Stuart Lancaster - who is currently working in Ireland with Leinster - and left under a cloud after England's disappointing 2015 home World Cup, is another matter altogether.

The La Rochelle coach was seen as one of the front-runners to replace Eddie Jones when he was sacked in December.

O’Gara has previously said he would be interested in the job because of the calibre of players available, but when linked to the job he admitted it would be a 'big leap'.

"There’s a lot to that, being the head man it’s very much your vision. Even two people who are very aligned sometimes don’t have the same vision.

“Then again, titles don’t really interest me too much and it’s just what role Scott would like to do, I would like to do and how you share responsibility.

“Even before that, it’s a big mental leap for me to decide upon.

“I wouldn’t have given that the time required, at the minute all I’ve said is that I wouldn’t rule it out, but if you were to commit to something like that I’d have to sit down with my family and work it out."

The former England boss, who has seen his reputation go through the roof since the disastrous 2015 World Cup, will leave Leinster to become director of rugby at French club Racing 92 at the end of this season.

Lancaster has been Irish province's senior coach since 2016, working under head coach Leo Cullen, while he spent four years as England boss before stepping down after in 2015.

During his time with Leinster, the Irish province won the Heineken Champions Cup in 2018 and four PRO14 titles.

The former England boss revealed he could be interested in a return to England.

“If you ask my wife, she might question my sanity if I said yes. There are probably other parts of the world I would love to coach in as well. The southern hemisphere would be a big challenge for me. I’d love to go and coach in Super Rugby in some way shape or form or international rugby down in the southern hemisphere.

“So, you’d never say never but I think it’s not top of the list and certainly, I think Steve Borthwick will keep the job until 2027. I’m committed here (at Racing) until 2027 so let’s see.

“I don’t think you should never say never. I don’t think you should ever be so hurt or so damaged that you could never go back somewhere. If the political will is there and the time is right, I’d hate to be so hurt or angry about certain things that would stop me from doing certain things. I don’t want to be that kind of person.”

Will Greenwood believes Lancaster deserves to have a second crack at the England job one day.

“I honestly believe he would be better a second time around," said Greenwood.

“Failure is a vital part of success. Sir Clive Woodward probably would have lost his job in today’s climate after what happened in 1999 but he came back to win four years later. Graham Henry won the 2011 World Cup after being given another chance.

“Would Stuart want to come back? That is another question entirely.

“I haven’t asked him but I suspect the answer is yes. Stuart may be unassuming and softly-spoken but he is also a competitive animal. And a proud man.

“I say this as a friend but he always looks good, if you know what I mean. He is a bloke who looks after himself physically. And he backs himself.”