England rugby head coach Steve Borthwick continues to have the full support of the Rugby Football Union, despite chief executive Bill Sweeney voicing his disappointment over the unexpected departures of Felix Jones and Aled Walters.
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“We are deeply disappointed that this has taken place with no indication that it was going to happen. It came out of the blue,” Sweeney said.
“I feel for Steve. Steve has made some choices and has brought some people in and I feel for him at the moment.
“We’ve seen some good momentum and progression in terms of how the England team has been playing under Steve as head coach.
“There is huge excitement around the squad about how the team played at the back end of the Six Nations and on the summer tour to New Zealand, which was really encouraging.
“We’ve got the autumn coming up, so for that to happen was massively disappointing.
“What I can say though is that Steve has absolute 100 per cent support from us – from me personally and of the RFU.
“I can also say categorically he has the full support 100 per cent of the squad. The players are very keen to get this message across that they feel they’re building something special now.”
“25 awarded” – Big names miss out on England Central Contracts
RUCK has made bold predictions regarding the 25 players poised to snag central contracts from the RFU for the forthcoming 2024/25 season.
Leading the pack are Maro Itoje and Jamie George, integral figures in Steve Borthwick’s England squad, who have clinched coveted “enhanced hybrid contracts” courtesy of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), ensuring their continued allegiance to their Premiership clubs.
This preemptive action safeguards England’s chances by preventing Itoje and George from becoming casualties of the ongoing trend of top-tier players departing for foreign shores, thus preserving their eligibility for national team selection.
However, the contract allocation is poised to leave some notable figures out in the cold, as only two slots have been secured thus far, leaving 23 coveted contracts yet to be finalised. The suspense mounts as speculation swirls over which players will secure the remaining spots and who might miss out on this lucrative opportunity.
Front-row: 5
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Cole
3. Jamie George
4. Theo Dan
5. Will Stuart
6. Fin Baxter
Second-row: 3
1. Maro Itoje
2. Ollie Chessum
3. George Martin