The Rugby Football Union will announce Steve Borthwick as England’s next head coach on Monday after an agreement was finalized on Sunday morning.
The 43-year-old has been recruited from Leicester, where he has served as head coach since 2020, leading the club to the Premiership championship last season. Borthwick served as an assistant coach for eight years with Japan and England under Eddie Jones, his predecessor.
Jones has fired nearly two weeks ago after presiding over England’s worst year of performance since 2008, with just five victories in 12 matches.
Warren Gatland, Ronan O’Gara, and Scott Robertson were among the candidates to succeed Jones, but the RFU has made it obvious that Borthwick is their top choice.
Throughout his 14-year playing career, Borthwick earned 57 England caps and played for Bath and Saracens. Following hanging up his boots, he began his coaching career with Japan in 2012 and followed Jones to England after the dismal 2015 World Cup, when Jones was named England’s head coach.
Borthwick’s primary responsibility for England was to oversee the forwards, with the lineout being his primary area of expertise. However, he also served as the coaching coordinator and was seen as the glue behind the scenes.
