The Rugby Football Union has confirmed that Steve Borthwick and his coaching staff will remain in charge of England's men's team despite a dismal Six Nations campaign that saw the squad suffer four defeats for the first time since 1976. Following what the RFU described as a detailed and robust review, the union has opted to keep faith with Borthwick through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
RFU Statement on Review Findings
Bill Sweeney, the RFU's chief executive, stated: "This has been a thorough and honest review, and it is clear that improvement will come from addressing several areas rather than chasing one simple answer. We've all seen what this England side is capable of – most recently in the performance against France, and during the strong winning run before that. That doesn't disappear overnight. The challenge now is delivering that level consistently, and we are confident this group can do that, supported by the insight and feedback this review has surfaced."
Reasons for Retaining Borthwick
The RFU decided that sacking the head coach was not the optimal solution, having previously dismissed Eddie Jones just nine months before the 2023 World Cup. Sweeney added: "This is a young England team that is still growing and developing, and we understand progress in international sport is rarely linear. Steve has engaged in this process with full openness and has clear plans in place to address these findings."
There had been speculation that Borthwick's future might depend on results in the upcoming Nations Championship Tests against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina. However, the RFU has given him and his staff full backing for the next 18 months. "We are all behind him and his coaching team going into the Nations Championship and the series of matches leading into Rugby World Cup 2027," Sweeney said.
Review Details and Performance Issues
The review, which involved several independent rugby figures and in-person interviews with players, coaches, and backroom staff, concluded that England's underperformance was not due to a single failure but rather interconnected issues such as discipline, execution of opportunities, and capitalizing on key moments. The RFU acknowledged that improvement is required for England to consistently perform at the expected level and expressed sympathy with frustrated fans.
England will begin their Nations Championship against South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July, followed by a match against Fiji in Liverpool and a fixture against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on 18 July.
