Steve Borthwick's future as England head coach has been decided, with the RFU making its position clear despite a disastrous Six Nations campaign.
England won just one match in this year's championship, leaving Borthwick facing serious questions over his future.
However, Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney has now given the 47-year-old his full backing ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
It is a significant decision from the man who sacked Eddie Jones less than a year before the previous tournament.
RFU make Steve Borthwick decision
Speaking to The Telegraph, Sweeney insisted he could not envisage Borthwick being replaced before next year's World Cup in Australia.
"We're committed to Steve, we've extended his contract to the middle of 2028," he said.
"We believe in what he's doing. We had a difficult Six Nations this year, we accept that, but we just want to see continued progress and we're backing him to get that done."
The extension had first been discussed publicly in September, when RFU performance director Conor O'Shea revealed plans to extend Borthwick's deal by six months.
However, despite those comments, the RFU did not issue a standalone announcement confirming the new agreement had been finalised.
That left some uncertainty over whether the paperwork had been completed, particularly following England's disastrous Six Nations campaign.
Sweeney's latest comments now provide explicit confirmation that Borthwick's contract runs until the middle of 2028, rather than the end of 2027.
The RFU chief executive explained that the extension was designed to remove uncertainty around the coaching team heading into the World Cup.
He insisted the governing body wanted Borthwick and his assistants focused entirely on preparing England for the tournament, rather than worrying about their futures.
Eddie Jones comparison raises questions
The RFU's backing is particularly interesting given what happened to Borthwick's predecessor.
Jones was sacked in December 2022 following a disappointing autumn campaign.
Borthwick subsequently took charge, with England reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
Now, despite another difficult Six Nations, the RFU appears determined to avoid repeating that decision.
Sweeney admitted he was very disappointed by England's performances earlier this year.
However, he believes a detailed review has helped address some of the problems.
Discipline remains a major concern, with England repeatedly struggling when reduced to 14 players.
Shaun Edwards revelation adds pressure
The decision also comes amid fresh scrutiny of Borthwick's coaching setup.
Argentina's new defence coach Shaun Edwards recently revealed that he had offered to help England, only for Borthwick to turn down the opportunity.
"I had a good chat with Steve over the phone," Edwards told Rugby Union Weekly.
"I said to Steve he can make me assistant kit man and I'll be there, I'll be ready for work.
"He was very, very honest with me and I thanked him for that."
The revelation has raised further questions about whether England are making the most of the coaching experience available to them.
Edwards has enjoyed enormous success with Wales and France, while England have struggled for consistency throughout 2026.
With the World Cup now less than a year away, Borthwick faces a crucial period.
Read also
England face huge November test
England begin their home Nations Championship campaign against Australia at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, November 8.
They will also face Japan and New Zealand before the competition's finals weekend.
Borthwick's side suffered a heavy defeat against South Africa during the summer but responded with victories over Fiji and Argentina.
Sweeney believes those performances offer encouragement.
"We are looking forward to kicking on against Australia on Sunday," he said.
However, another disappointing run of results would inevitably bring renewed scrutiny of England's progress.
Have your say: Should Steve Borthwick stay?
The RFU has made its position clear, but will England supporters agree?
Should England stick with Steve Borthwick until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, or is it time for a change?
Pick your England XV
Borthwick faces some difficult selection decisions ahead of Sunday's clash with Australia.
