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#Post#: 157383--------------------------------------------------
England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: September 9, 2026, 2:59 am
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England head coach Steve Borthwick will have his contract
extended past the 2028 Six Nations in a bid to avoid uncertainty
over his future before and during next year's Rugby World Cup.
As it did with Red Roses boss John Mitchell before the 2025
World Cup, the Rugby Football Union has moved to ensure
Borthwick and his staff have some clarity over their positions
going into the global showpiece.
According to RFU performance director Conor O'Shea, extending
Borthwick's deal into the middle of 2028 will allow time to
decide who leads the team in the longer-term.
"You don't want them looking for a job going into [a World
Cup]," O'Shea explained.
"Everyone knows it will be judged on the World Cup, but you
can't have a group of coaches going in with that uncertainty,
especially when you look at the timing.
"So we will give that certainty, and that will give us time to
look properly."
England '100% can win the World Cup'
Following a review into England's "horrendous" Six Nations
earlier this year, Borthwick has been backed to lead the team
through to the World Cup, with O'Shea adding he can't see a
scenario where Borthwick isn't in charge in Australia.
In the July leg of the Nations Championship, England recovered
from a bruising defeat by South Africa in Johannesburg to
vanquish Fiji in Liverpool and edge out Argentina to finish the
campaign with two wins from three.
Red Roses 'can never be too strong'
Since joining the RFU in January 2020, O'Shea has overseen
England women's global dominance, aided by the establishment and
development of Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR).
And while the resources and player numbers at England dwarf
those at many of their rivals, O'Shea rejects the notion that
the Red Roses can ever be too strong.
The world champion Roses are unbeaten in four years and have won
every Six Nations since 2018.
Conversely in the men's game, no nation has won three Six
Nations in a row in the professional era.
"Does competitive tension create greater commercialisation and
broadcast? I get all that," O'Shea said.
"But I do think when you look at the PWR, and what we have done
in terms of allowing a lot of players to come over here and
allow them the platform to develop as players, England plays a
huge role in driving that.
"Was it bad when you had a dominant Tiger Woods, or Serena
Williams? What about celebrating what they are. They have been
the standard bearer."
However at this stage the RFU has stopped short of committing to
Borthwick on a long-term basis, unlike Ireland, who have signed
their head coach Andy Farrell up to 2031.
"I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to
succeed more than anything you can imagine," O'Shea said.
"This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams
who can win the World Cup next year. I believe this team can win
a World Cup.
"Is the talent there? 100%," he added.
"If over this next 12 months this England team shows the best
version of itself, I know it can beat anyone in the world."
As was the case for a number of his predecessors, Borthwick is
only able to select players based in the English Prem, meaning
the likes of Toulouse flanker Jack Willis – one of the
outstanding performers in the French Top 14 – is ineligible for
his country.
Cap centurion Courtney Lawes, who has returned to English rugby
with Sale after two seasons at Brive, believes the RFU should
review the policy to ensure the best players are available.
But O'Shea is adamant the ruling is what works for English rugby
as a whole, and has warned against the impact of loosening the
policy.
"It is something done not just for England, but for English
rugby," O'Shea said.
"As of now, if all the best players were picked by England and
went abroad, and we had less of the top players in our league,
the unintended consequence towards investment into that from
some of our owners… why would you invest in the pathways if the
best players are going to be taken away?
"I get it completely, the life experiences are great. But for
the English game, it is absolutely the right thing."
HTML https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c5ydlq5n0zwo
#Post#: 157384--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: dr_miles
Date: September 9, 2026, 3:20 am
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That'll stop any of the other tier 1 nations from poaching our
amazing coaching staff.
#Post#: 157385--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: September 9, 2026, 3:38 am
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I feel massively confident to predict he will be gone after an
abject RWC, before the RFU come out with some deep learnings
they need to reflect on. Probably will then see Graham Rowntree
as the head HC
#Post#: 157386--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: Nico Wilson
Date: September 9, 2026, 3:51 am
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Surely all this is doing is making sure he gets an even bigger
payoff when he gets sacked following our exit from the group
stages of the next World Cup?
#Post#: 157387--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: Quinky
Date: September 9, 2026, 4:04 am
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--- Quote from: Rugbycat link ---
>
>
> "This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams
who can win the World Cup next year. I believe this team can win
a World Cup.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
I've always liked COS, and I admire his optimism. However...
#Post#: 157388--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: September 9, 2026, 4:19 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Through Quins tinted lenses, I think this makes Marcus leaving
in 2028 when his contract is up considerably more likely :'(
#Post#: 157389--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: September 9, 2026, 4:19 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I like the writers comparison to John Mitchell, slightly
different record.
John Mitchell
100% win rate, three consecutive 6N grand slams, WVX 1 multiple
championships, Rugby World Cup winners and World coach of the
year.
Steve Borthwick
Good at charts and PowerPoints, stopped Richard Wigglesworth
from being unemployed.
#Post#: 157390--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: A222Quin
Date: September 9, 2026, 4:24 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> I've always liked COS, and I admire his optimism. However...
>
--- End Quote ---
He strikes me as always wanting to be everyone's friend, despite
the fact you can't be in that sort of position...
#Post#: 157391--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: dr_miles
Date: September 9, 2026, 5:51 am
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Not too sure how a terrible 6 nations and average summer leads
the RFU to think "we must keep this team in place". There's been
no evolution, no results, and there's no prospect of us getting
anywhere in the next world cup.
#Post#: 157392--------------------------------------------------
Re: England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: September 9, 2026, 5:56 am
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It is a relief to know that that they won't be going anywhere
after we fail against NZ and Australia and struggle against
Japan in the autumn, then finish 5th in the 6N again. I have
been losing sleep over that.
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