A narrow, hard-fought defeat to France at the start of the 2026 Six Nations hinted England might finally be turning a corner—but what followed only deepened the sense of concern around the national side.
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Another inconsistent campaign has left England short on wins and long on questions, with familiar issues in attack and game management continuing to frustrate supporters.
However, despite the noise, the bigger picture is becoming clearer.
RFU set for post-2027 change
Sources close to the Rugby Football Union indicate that Steve Borthwick is expected to remain in charge through the 2027 Rugby World Cup, effectively setting a likely end point for his tenure.
While there is no immediate pressure on his position, it’s understood the RFU are unlikely to consider extending his contract beyond that tournament.
That stance reflects lessons learned from previous regimes. Both Eddie Jones and Clive Woodward enjoyed long spells in charge, but their tenures ultimately ended earlier than planned—prompting a shift in how the union approaches succession planning.
Backing remains—for now
Publicly, Borthwick continues to receive full support and has struck a calm tone amid growing scrutiny.
“We go into every game expecting to win—it’s what England supporters demand, and it’s what we demand of ourselves.”
Despite underwhelming results, the RFU remain committed to stability through this World Cup cycle, resisting calls for short-term change.
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A defining World Cup ahead
For Borthwick, the situation is now clear. He is not coaching for his job in the immediate sense—but he is coaching toward a fixed end point.
The 2027 Rugby World Cup will define his tenure and ultimately determine how this England era is judged.
Who could replace him?
- Michael Cheika – 2/1 favourite
- Stuart Lancaster – 7/1
- Ronan O'Gara – 10/1
- Andy Farrell – 15/1
- Rob Baxter – 18/1
- Phil Dawson – 20/1
- Clive Woodward – 40/1
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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