Statement: England confirms Kevin Sinfield's new role

This comes after he initially planned to leave Steve Borthwick’s coaching staff following the summer tour of New Zealand.

The 44-year-old, who first joined the team in early 2023 as defence coach, was instrumental during England’s Rugby World Cup campaign. After discussions about his future, Sinfield has agreed to remain in a revised capacity that allows him to balance his coaching duties with other personal commitments.

In a statement, Sinfield said: “Working with Steve and the squad has been incredibly rewarding,” Sinfield said. “I’m excited to continue contributing to the team while also finding time for other important aspects of my life.”

Off the field, Sinfield’s contributions are equally significant. He has raised over £10 million for motor neurone disease (MND) research in honour of his close friend Rob Burrow. Later this year, Sinfield will undertake another fundraising challenge, running over 50km every day for a week across Great Britain and Northern Ireland to support the cause.

England welcome New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday 2 November (kick-off 3:10pm) for their first match of the Autumn Nations Series, before taking on Australia, South Africa and Japan.

He found himself on the periphery throughout Exeter's defeat against Saracens.

Saracens' suffocating out-to-in defence effectively neutralised Feyi-Waboso, cutting off the passing lanes that might have allowed him to make an impact.

Isolated on the wing, he struggled to get involved in Exeter’s attack, and when a winger can’t get into the game, their opportunities to shine are limited.

For Feyi-Waboso, this was one of those frustrating afternoons where everything seemed to pass him by.

Returning to Premiership Rugby with great expectations, Zach Mercer was expected to thrive in Gloucester’s attack-focused game plan. But against Sale Sharks, he seemed subdued.

While Mercer constantly made himself available as the primary ball carrier, Sale’s defence kept him contained. He had only one notable break, a rarity for someone known for his dynamism.

With the England back row brimming with talent, this performance may have cast further doubt on his international future. Mercer’s exile from the national team looks increasingly likely to be prolonged unless he rediscovers his form soon.

Ben Spencer had been Bath’s standout player in the opening rounds, but the West Country derby against Bristol marked a rare off-day for the scrum-half on his 100th appearance for the club.

Known for dictating the tempo with his passing and kicking game, Spencer found himself struggling to take control of proceedings. There were loose passes and turnovers at crucial moments, leaving Bath disjointed in attack. While his kicking game was functional, it lacked the sharpness fans have come to expect.

It was a scrappy 40 minutes from Spencer, who couldn't impose himself even in the second half. Somerset Live rated him a mere five out of ten – a reflection of how far below his usual standards he was.

Gloucester’s loosehead prop Val Rapava-Ruskin has been tipped for England honours, but his first outing of the season was far from ideal.

Having dealt with knee issues, the Georgian-born prop struggled in the contest against Sale Sharks. In his 40 minutes on the field, Rapava-Ruskin was driven backwards in several collisions, including one sequence where two Sale defenders easily wrapped him up.

He also conceded a costly scrum penalty, a clear indicator that he’s not yet back to his best. For a player with ambitions to break into the England squad, this was a disappointing display.

Ted Hill had a rollercoaster afternoon against Bristol. The back-rower thought he had crossed the line for a try, only for the TMO to rule that he had lost control of the ball in the act of grounding it.

His woes were compounded when he gave away a needless penalty for pushing Ellis Genge off the ball, an error that proved costly as it gave Bristol momentum. The biggest blow came when Hill was caught out defensively, biting on the inside line and allowing debutant Santiago Grondona to slice through for a crucial try. From there, the game slipped away from Bath.