With Steve Borthwick’s backroom staff shrinking almost daily, those in charge at Twickenham are likely scrambling to find replacements.
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The departure of Aled Walters as head of strength and conditioning was a significant blow, given his popularity among the players.
However, the announcement of defense coach Felix Jones’s resignation over the weekend is nothing short of a disaster.
Jones reportedly has a 12-month notice period in his Rugby Football Union contract, but it appears he has resigned after just seven months in the role.
The Rugby Football Union has not commented on Jones’s situation, but his resignation, following Walters’ departure, is a major setback.
Borthwick is expected to have urgent talks with the RFU as they work to rebuild their depleted backroom staff.
Shaun Edwards is rumoured to be on the shortlist, as he remains one of the top defense coaches in world rugby since his move from Wales to France.
Borthwick departure date:
eflecting 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.
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.
