{"id":594259,"date":"2025-11-26T04:34:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T04:34:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/594259\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T04:34:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T04:34:12","slug":"steve-borthwicks-england-future-in-doubt-with-surprise-name-leading-the-race-to-replace-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/594259\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Borthwick\u2019s England Future In Doubt with Surprise Name Leading the Race to Replace Him"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bill Sweeney has shut down any suggestion of extending Steve Borthwick\u2019s contract early, despite the England head coach steering his side to an 11-match winning streak.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Borthwick, who took charge in December 2022, is contracted until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. While previous England bosses have often been tied down well in advance, Sweeney made it clear that no such talks are happening.<\/p>\n

Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community<\/a>\u00a0for all the latest news direct to your phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis contract goes through to 2027<\/strong>,\u201d said Sweeney. \u201cWe are obviously delighted with the direction it is going in. We actually saw [progress] in 2024. It\u2019s easy with hindsight now, but with those narrow losses in 24, we knew the trajectory the team was on.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNarrow loss to Australia, the loss to New Zealand that could have gone the other way. We were confident at that stage that it was going in the right direction.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think what you\u2019ve seen this year with the depth that the squad is building, the style of play he is developing, we are really happy with that. We haven\u2019t got into any discussions about post-27.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

RUCK sources have previously reported that the RFU is highly reluctant to extend Borthwick\u2019s deal\u2014not because of any dissatisfaction with his work, but due to the lessons learned from the prolonged regimes of Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward, both of which ended sourly.<\/p>\n

As things stand, regardless of how England perform through to the next World Cup, the expectation is that Borthwick will step aside after 2027.<\/p>\n

FAVOURITES TO REPLACE STEVE BORTHWICK:<\/p>\n

The Old Master \u2013 Sir Clive Woodward (100\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

England\u2019s only World Cup-winning coach remains the ultimate reference point for success in red and white. More pundit than practitioner these days, Woodward\u2019s gravitas still resonates \u2014 but in the modern RFU landscape, he\u2019s more romantic longshot than realistic contender.<\/p>\n

The Mastermind \u2013 Rassie Erasmus (20\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A two-time World Cup winner, tactical disruptor, and social-media provocateur, Erasmus is one of rugby\u2019s most brilliant \u2014 and divisive \u2014 thinkers. Tempting him from South Africa would be ambitious, but few CVs shine brighter. He\u2019s even said he\u2019d \u201clove to coach England.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Forwards Fixer \u2013 Richard Cockerill (15\/1)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Once Leicester\u2019s fiery hooker, now a seasoned international coach with Georgia and Black Lion, Cockerill blends grit with evolution. His deep English roots and forward-dominant mantra make him an intriguing outside bet. Expect scrums, mauls, and bite.<\/p>\n

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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