- Northampton chief admits he’d like to coach international rugby
- Exeter’s Rob Baxter and Bath’s Mike Ford have ruled themselves out
Northampton head coach Jim Mallinder has admitted he has ambitions to work in international rugby in the coming years after being linked with the England post.
Stuart Lancaster, England head coach, is widely expected to step down from his role after the Uruguay game following a disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign, which saw the men in white become the first primary hosts to be eliminated at a competition in the Pool stage.
“Some way down the line I would like to coach internationally,” he told the Gloucester Citizen
Mallinder, who began his coaching career at Sale Sharks in 2001 then worked in the England set-up for three years, first being in charge of the academy before taking over the Saxons.
The 49-year-old then took over Northampton in June 2007 in the wake of their relegation to the Championship. He would lead Saints back to the Premiership before finishing as Heineken Cup runners-up in 2011 and Premiership champions in 2014 under his guidance.
“As an Englishman it is really disappointing to see what has happened,” admitted Mallinder.
“It has been a tough group, but you would always want to come through and make the quarter-final. Clearly something has gone wrong.
“I have my personal views. You hear and talk to people and see what has happened yourself, but I think that is best coming from the people who are directly involved.”
Mallinder leads the way at 5/1 with Paddy Power and Coral, while Bath’s Mike Ford and Harlequins boss Conor O’Shea also seen as likely candidates.
Meanwhile, Exeter’s Rob Baxter has joined Ford in ruling himself out as a possible replacement for Lancaster at this stage.