England are considering Richard Cokerill as an interim coaching option with Conor O’Shea and Warren Gatland also in the frame as Eddie Jones’ future looks increasingly uncertain.
There are growing indications English rugby’s governing body has lost patience with Jones, and the Aussie could be ousted from his position.
According to the Mail Online, The RFU ‘is also considering Conor O’Shea as a possible interim head coach amid big doubts over future of Eddie Jones.’
The former Italy and Harlequins boss is currently part of the RFU review process into Jones and England’s worst year since 2008.
As reported earlier in the week, three-time Lions and former Wales boss Warren Gatland also in the frame for the part-time job.
RUCK also understands that former England hooker Richard Cockerill, who has coached Leicester and Edinburgh, is in the conversation to lead the men in white for the Six Nations.
Next England boss:
Current Leicester boss Steve Borthwick, who is the current favourite to land the role long-term, could then work with whoever before taking over after the World Cup.
Eddie Jones pay-off?
Sources suggest the Aussie will receive an £800,000 pay-out if he is sacked as England boss – but he wouldn’t be able to take another job before the Rugby World Cup.
The RFU had promised a review, but sources indicated they could act before that to bring down the curtain on Jones’s seven-year tenure with the 2003 World Cup winners.
The Mail Online have reported that senior RFU performance executive Conor O’Shea was canvassing players.
A function involving Jones, senior RFU figures and members of the media was scheduled to take place on Monday, December 5, but that has now been postponed.
O’Gara out of the race:
He is out of the running to replace Eddie Jones as England boss after he signed a new three-year contract with La Rochelle.
The legendary Ireland fly-half has not been shy with confirming his interest in the England job but is currently in an interesting position, serving a 10-week touchline ban in France.
That ban was handed down to him for “making remarks to a match official”, having already served a previous six-week suspension this season for “disrespecting the authority of a match official”.
However, today’s reports in the French media claim that O’Gara will in fact stay at La Rochelle and sign a contract that will keep him in the south of France until after the 2027 World Cup.
They say: “A three-year contract, which would lead the Irish coach until the 2027 World Cup, is simply awaiting the signature of the person concerned today.”
6 players who could swap nations, including England number 8 and Ireland scrum-half
Five current internationals could still swap nations for the Rugby World Cup next year if they choose to swap nations.
#1. John Cooney (Ireland to Scotland)
Cooney is eligible to play for the Scots, through his family, three years after his last Ireland appearance which came in February 2020.
“I’ll make the decision on my own terms and whatever I feel is right for me,” said the 32-year-old Ulster player.
“Half of my family live in Scotland and my dad’s a proud Scotsman.”
Cooney won the last of his 11 international caps as a replacement against England in the Six Nations and does not appear in the frame for a return under coach Andy Farrell.
#2. Nathan Hughes (England to Fiji)
The Bristol No.8 last played for England in 2018 and could make the switch to Fiji immediately having been born on the island.
