Ex-England boss Stuart Lancaster is now a front-runner for Premiership job

Tuesday, 06 May 2025 at 07:03

byRugby Rucker

moment for Sam Prendergast—the prodigy set to carry Irish rugby into the next era. Instead, the 21-year-old was ruthlessly exposed by Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-final.

Despite a turbulent spell in Paris, former England head coach Stuart Lancaster is now a leading contender to take over at Exeter Chiefs as the Devon outfit hunt for their next top boss.

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Paris pain, Premiership gain?

Lancaster parted ways with Racing 92 in January after a disappointing run left the French giants 12th in the Top 14 with just five wins from 15 matches. But don’t let the results fool you — Lancaster’s coaching stock remains high.

Rowntree in the frame too

, Lancaster isn’t the only heavyweight being considered. , the mastermind behind Munster’s dramatic URC title win in 2023, is also firmly on Chiefs CEO Tony Rowe’s radar.

Planet Rugby

The former England and Lions prop turned Munster around almost instantly, taking them from sixth place in 2021/22 to champions a year later, and finishing top of the table this season before losing to eventual winners Glasgow in the playoffs.

Coaching pedigree to spare

Both Lancaster and Rowntree boast serious international experience and know-how when it comes to rebuilding a squad. Lancaster’s time at Leinster saw him credited as the architect of their recent dominance, and let’s not forget his role in blooding the likes of Owen Farrell, Jamie George, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie during his England tenure — a perfect fit for the Chiefs’ youthful squad.

Rowntree, meanwhile, has built a reputation as one of rugby’s most reliable turnaround specialists, with back-to-back impressive seasons at Munster despite limited resources.

MacDonald enters the chat

Also believed to be under consideration is Leon MacDonald, a highly respected Kiwi coach currently working with the All Blacks. His sharp attacking mind and player development background would also suit the Chiefs’ ethos.

Who else is in the running?

Alongside Lancaster, Rowntree, and MacDonald, a couple of familiar names are reportedly being monitored:

Geoff Parling – A former Chiefs legend and now Australia’s forwards coach
Nick Easter – The ex-Harlequins star who’s quickly gaining traction in coaching circles

RUCK's Verdict

Lancaster would bring stability, vision, and Premiership familiarity. Rowntree? Immediate impact and gritty leadership. MacDonald? A wildcard with serious upside.

Whoever gets the nod, expect big changes on the horizon at Sandy Park.

“Hopes over” – Four players who FLOPPED on their final Lions audition

The countdown to the 2025 British & Irish Lions squad announcement is nearly over, but for these five stars, the dream might already be dead.

While some players are surging into the spotlight, these names may have seen the red jersey slip through their fingers at the worst possible time.

? Owen Farrell – All hope Lyon gone

Owen Farrell’s bid for a fourth Lions tour may have ended in painful, poetic fashion—on French soil, 18 minutes into Racing 92’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Lyon.

Stationed at inside centre and captaining the Parisians, the 112-cap England veteran was forced off with a head injury before the first quarter was done. With his father and Lions head coach Andy Farrell watching closely, it was a brutal blow to his already fragile chances.

As MailSport’s Chris Foy bluntly put it: “Surely, that must be the end of that element of the 10 debate.”

With the squad due this Thursday and Farrell now ineligible for England, the signs all point to this being one battle he won’t win—especially after Racing’s dismal 29-15 defeat, where they barely fired a shot.

? Marcus Smith – Miami nice, Premiership nightmare

Remember when Marcus Smith skipped Harlequins’ clash with Saracens to soak up the sun in Miami? Since then, Quins have slumped to four straight defeats, including an eye-watering 62-0 mauling at the hands of Leinster.

His latest outing? A limp 40-7 loss to Leicester, with Smith playing through the pain, ankle heavily strapped, and barely able to influence the game. There were glimpses—some smart kicking into the Tigers’ 22—but the fizz was gone.

And let's not forget Borthwick’s baffling decision to stick him at fullback during the Six Nations. Smith’s spark has flickered just when Farrell needed to see fireworks.

I remain hopeful that Farrell will select him, although such a decision would not be supported by his recent form.

? Jamie Ritchie – All bark, not enough bite

You can't fault Jamie Ritchie's fight—the Scotland flanker was all over the scraps in Edinburgh’s defeat to Bath, including a full-blooded bust-up with Sam Underhill.

But test-level Lions don’t just bring heat—they deliver dominance. Ritchie couldn’t get near the breakdown battle and never grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.

Once tipped to lead the Lions into battle, he now looks more likely to be watching it on TV.

? Sam Prendergast – Welcome to the big leagues

This was supposed to be the

A soft turnover inside 10 minutes. A horror kick leading to a Saints try. A missed shot at goal that would’ve tied it late on. Even his one bright moment—a sweet assist for Tommy O’Brien—was quickly overshadowed as he was torched on the outside by teenage sensation Henry Pollock.

Farrell loves a bolter, but this one might need a bit more seasoning first.

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