According to The Telegraph, a group of senior England players held a call on Sunday to discuss the unexpected resignation of defense coach Felix Jones and to reaffirm their support for the team’s direction under Steve Borthwick.
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With Borthwick’s coaching team shrinking almost daily, it is likely that those in charge at Twickenham are scrambling to find suitable replacements.
The departure of Aled Walters, the head of strength and conditioning, was a significant setback due to his popularity among the players.
However, the announcement of Felix Jones’s resignation as defense coach over the weekend is nothing short of disastrous.
Although Jones reportedly has a 12-month notice period in his contract with the Rugby Football Union, it seems he has chosen to step down after just seven months in the role.
The Rugby Football Union has yet to comment on Jones’s situation, but his resignation, following Walters’ departure, represents a considerable blow.
Borthwick is expected to have urgent discussions with the RFU as they work to rebuild the depleted coaching staff.
Shaun Edwards is rumored to be a leading candidate, as he remains one of the top defense coaches in world rugby since moving from Wales to France.
Borthwick departure date:
Reflecting on past experiences with long-serving coaches Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward, the RFU is prepared for Borthwick to step down, even if England wins the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia.
Here, we take a look at the current odds for who might succeed Borthwick as the next England head coach.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD – 50/1
Woodward is the World Cup winning Head Coach who led England’s rugby players to World Cup glory in Australia in 2003.
A former England International and British & Irish Lion himself, prior to his full time coaching career Clive established a successful business career working for nine years with Xerox in the UK and Australia before establishing his own small finance and leasing company.
During Clive’s tenure as Head Coach England moved from 6th in the world to being the number one ranked team, winning every trophy an England team can win.
RICHARD COCKERILL – 30/1
Currently in charge of Georgia, he was part of the England coaching staff up until the end of the 2023 Six Nations.
GRAHAM ROWNTREE – 20/1
Currently the Munster head coach.
ROB BAXTER – 18/1
Although Baxter joined the England coaching team for the summer tour to Argentina and Uruguay in March 2013, he has no other 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.
“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.
